Six Flags announced on Tuesday the permanent closure of its signature X2 roller coaster. The decision follows intense scrutiny after reports emerged regarding a decade-long history of serious injuries and deaths connected to the attraction. The ride, a central feature at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California for nearly 20 years, was celebrated for its 4th-dimensional design that rotates seats 360 degrees while reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour. According to allegations that the roller coaster has injured riders date back more than a decade but had been largely kept under wraps until investigation last month documenting more than a dozen, Of serious injuries and.
Brian Oerding, president of Six Flags Magic Mountain, addressed the closure in a blog post, stating that while the coaster had consistently passed multiple safety evaluations, the company determined that closing the ride was the right course of action. Oerding noted that ride safety remains a foundational element of the business and stated, “When we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”
Concerns surrounding the attraction were largely private until recent disclosures brought to light over a dozen documented cases of hospitalizations and at least two fatalities. The situation intensified in July when two women were admitted to a Santa Clarita emergency room with brain injuries after riding the coaster just six days apart. The ride has remained closed since the second incident occurred.
Legal pressure has also mounted, with attorneys representing plaintiffs in lawsuits against the park claiming last week that over 100 individuals have reported suffering brain injuries on the coaster within the last two years alone. While the park had maintained the ride’s safety record for years, public and legal pressure ultimately forced the closure of the marquee attraction.
