Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2, the world's first roller coaster with seats that spin 360 degrees, is now permanently closed. The ride was first shut down temporarily in July after back-to-back brain injury reports, then closed for good this week.
The closure matters because X2 had been the park's flagship attraction since opening as X in 2002, drawing more than 16 million riders over its lifetime. Park president Brian Oerding said in a statement: "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 ride's history includes multiple injury lawsuits. Christopher Hawley, 22, died in 2022 after riding X2 and losing consciousness shortly after exiting; his family settled a lawsuit in August. Hilda Farias died from a brain bleed after riding in 2010. Two other riders, Sheila Katerelos and Lucy Alvarez, filed separate suits claiming traumatic brain injuries in 2020 and 2021. The ride had also required repairs since its 2002 opening—it was closed months after debut to fix design flaws, then again in 2007 to replace trains with lighter ones before reopening as X2 in 2008.