US theme park Six Flags closes X2 roller coaster after brain injury lawsuits pile up

LOS ANGELES, 2 OCTOBER 2026 —

LOS ANGELES, Oct 1 — Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced the permanent closure of its X2 roller coaster, a decision driven by a surge in litigation alleging that the ride caused severe traumatic brain injuries to multiple riders.

The move marks a significant escalation in the controversy surrounding extreme amusement park rides, as legal representatives stated that more than 100 individuals have contacted them with similar allegations of injury. This development follows a temporary shutdown initiated in July after two women were hospitalized with subdural hematomas, a condition involving bleeding on the brain, within a six-day period.

The permanent closure comes roughly one month after Six Flags settled a lawsuit brought by the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate who died from blunt-force head trauma one day after riding X2 in 2022.

Brian Oerding, the president of Six Flags Magic Mountain, addressed the decision in a blog post, acknowledging the long-standing operation of the ride while emphasizing the company’s commitment to guest safety. "After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2," Oerding wrote. "While X2 consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it's the right thing to do.

Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously." The statement underscores a shift in corporate risk management, where legal liability and public perception are now weighing as heavily as technical safety certifications in operational decisions.

The immediate catalyst for the permanent closure was the hospitalization of two female riders in July 2026. Pamela Guillen, a 40-year-old woman, rode the coaster on July 5 while celebrating her daughter’s 16th birthday. According to attorneys at Dordick Law Corporation, the ride repeatedly slammed her head against the headrest. Guillen allegedly required assistance to exit the ride and began vomiting before losing consciousness.

She was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to remove part of her skull after being diagnosed with a subdural hematoma. Guillen regained consciousness approximately two weeks later, having spent nearly a month in the hospital.

Six days after Guillen’s hospitalization, on July 12, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson lost consciousness while riding the same coaster. Greer-Wilkinson underwent similar emergency brain surgery and remains on a ventilator, according to reports. Her parents have filed a lawsuit against Six Flags on her behalf.

The timing of these incidents, occurring just days apart, prompted Six Flags to close X2 indefinitely on the evening of July 12, a closure that was subsequently made permanent at the end of September.

Legal representatives for the plaintiffs have been vocal in their criticism of the timeline. Gary A. Dordick, the lead attorney for the X2 clients, released a statement following the announcement of the permanent closure. "Today Six Flags Magic Mountain finally did what it should have done long ago. X2 is closed for good. For our clients, this decision comes too late," Dordick said.

He added, "We will keep fighting for every rider who was injured on X2. We will hold Six Flags accountable." Dordick Law Corporation has been retained by more than 100 others who claim they have suffered similar injuries, indicating a potential class-action scale to the litigation.

The lawsuits allege that the ride had design problems dating back to its opening in 2002, originally under the name X. Court documents detail the experiences of the plaintiffs, including Guillen, who described the disorienting nature of the incident. "Everything went blank. My next memory is waking up in the hospital about two weeks later," Guillen recalled.

"I had suffered a traumatic brain injury and needed emergency brain surgery to stop the bleeding and had to be intubated. I was in a coma." Another plaintiff, Michael Wick, who visited the park with his family, has undergone two brain surgeries and is now unable to perform certain daily functions, according to his attorney.

Experts have weighed in on the physiological mechanisms behind these injuries, noting that the intense forces generated by extreme roller coasters can have profound effects on the brain. According to experts told by TIME, abrupt acceleration, twisting, and changes in direction can stretch brain tissue and blood vessels. This mechanical stress potentially increases the risk of concussions and internal bleeding, such as the subdural hematomas diagnosed in the recent cases.

The X2 was billed by Six Flags as a "fifth-dimension wing roller coaster," a design that distinguished it from traditional track-mounted rides.

The unique engineering of X2 involved seats that did not sit directly on the track. Instead, the seats were mounted on wings on either side of the track, effectively suspending riders in space. These wings rotated 360 degrees, creating a sensation of flipping. The now-removed Six Flags website described the experience, stating, "Your body will be flipping around the entire time.

Quite simply, you will be spun." This design, which contributed to the ride’s popularity and distinct thrill factor, is now at the center of allegations that it generated forces harmful to human physiology.

X2 was a two-minute thrill ride that reached a top speed of 76 miles per hour. It ran along 3,610 feet of track, a length that allowed for the complex sequence of inversions and directional changes that characterized the ride. The closure of X2 follows a CNN investigation published in August, which detailed the ride’s long history of incidents, including at least two deaths.

This historical context provided a backdrop for the recent lawsuits, suggesting that the risks associated with the ride’s design may have been known or should have been known to the operators.

The permanent retirement of X2 has renewed questions about the regulatory oversight of extreme amusement rides in the United States. While the ride consistently passed safety tests, as noted by Oerding, the medical outcomes for riders suggest that standard mechanical inspections may not fully capture the physiological risks posed by high-G forces and complex motion patterns.

The case highlights a growing tension between the pursuit of extreme thrills in the entertainment industry and the duty of care owed to guests regarding their physical well-being.

For the families of the injured riders, the closure does not resolve the legal and personal consequences of their experiences. The lawsuits continue to proceed, with attorneys asserting that the ride’s design flaws were present from its inception in 2002. The settlement with the family of Christopher Hawley, who died in 2022, indicates that Six Flags has already faced significant financial and legal repercussions for incidents linked to the coaster.

The current wave of litigation, involving over 100 claimants, could result in substantial financial liabilities for the company.

The decision to close X2 also serves as a cautionary tale for other theme parks operating similar high-intensity attractions. As public awareness of the potential for brain injuries from roller coasters grows, parks may face increased scrutiny regarding the design and operation of their most extreme rides.

The incident at Magic Mountain underscores the importance of ongoing medical monitoring and the potential need for stricter safety standards that account for neurological health, not just mechanical integrity.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, fans and visitors have expressed mixed reactions, with some mourning the loss of an iconic attraction while others support the decision as a necessary step for safety. The X2 coaster had been a staple of the Magic Mountain lineup for nearly two decades, drawing visitors from around the world.

Its removal leaves a gap in the park’s portfolio of extreme rides, though Six Flags has not announced any immediate replacements.

The legal proceedings are expected to continue, with the focus on establishing a causal link between the ride’s design and the specific brain injuries suffered by the plaintiffs. The outcome of these cases could have broader implications for the amusement industry, potentially leading to changes in ride design, operational protocols, or liability frameworks. For now, the X2 remains closed, its track silent, as the legal and medical battles over its legacy continue to unfold.

The closure of X2 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of modern theme parks, illustrating the complex interplay between engineering innovation, corporate responsibility, and public health. As the lawsuits progress, the industry will be watching closely to see how the courts interpret the evidence regarding the ride’s safety and the extent of the company’s liability.

The case serves as a reminder that in the pursuit of thrill, the well-being of the guest must remain the paramount concern.

Related: Six Flags · Six Flags Magic Mountain · Brian Oerding · Los Angeles