California's Six Flags Magic Mountain closes X2 coaster permanently after history of injuries

Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times on Sep 29, 2026

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LOS ANGELES — Six Flags Magic Mountain's famous X2 rollercoaster ride is permanently closed, following a history of injuries, including some that led to deaths, park officials announced on Tuesday.

The ride was first closed temporarily in July following reports of back-to-back brain injuries.

"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," Brian Oerding, Six Flags Magic Mountain president, said in a statement.

The ride was first opened as X in 2002, closed for repairs and reopened as X2 in 2008. It has long been one of the park's main attractions, featuring seats that spin forward and backward 360 degrees.

Anne Hawley, whose son died in 2022 after riding X2, was emotional Tuesday morning after learning the ride was permanently closed. Christopher Hawley was 22 when he rode X2, stumbled after getting off of it, lost consciousness and died shortly thereafter. His family sued Magic Mountain and settled the case in August.

Months after the ride opened in 2002, it had to be closed to repair design flaws. Then, in 2007, it was closed again to replace the trains with lighter ones.

"We have tried for four years to do the best we can to spread awareness," Hawley said. "They finally listened."

Hawley was just one of several people who have sued Magic Mountain in connection with brain injuries.

Hilda Farias was 28 when she rode X2 in 2010 and developed a brain bleed that led to her death, according to court records. Sheila Katerelos claimed in another suit she suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2020 after riding X2. Lucy Alvarez claimed in a third suit she sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2021 after riding X2, causing her "great physical, mental and nervous pain and suffering."

X2 had long been hailed by ride enthusiasts for its design. The seats are on the side of the track, allowing riders' feet to dangle below or above them as their seat spins forward or backward. At the beginning, riders are taken up a slope while facing backward and, at the peak, their seats spin forward as they hurtle toward the ground headfirst.

CNN reported in August that X2 has been linked to more than a dozen reports of serious injuries and hospitalizations over the last two decades, including the deaths of Hawley and Farias. The report said two people suffered brain hemorrhages in July after riding X2, requiring surgical intervention.