Six Flags to retire X2 roller coaster amid injury lawsuits

Six Flags said it will permanently retire the X2 roller coaster, which has operated at its parks since 2002. The decision follows a series of lawsuits filed by riders who allege the ride caused brain injuries, as well as an inquiry by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health into the incidents.

The legal actions involve claims against both Six Flags and the ride’s manufacturer, S&S Worldwide. Plaintiffs include individuals who required emergency brain surgery and others who remain in critical condition. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs indicated that roughly 100 additional riders have reported head trauma related to the X2 over the past two years.

CNN previously reported that families of injured riders received meals from a fast-food chain after the incidents, and the news outlet also noted a fatality associated with the coaster in June 2022. Six Flags has not commented on the specific allegations but confirmed the ride’s closure.