Six Flags Magic Mountain suspends X2 coaster after two riders suffer serious brain injuries

Six Flags Magic Mountain halted operations of its X2 roller coaster in mid-July after two separate incidents resulted in serious brain injuries. The first case involved a 38-year-old woman from Hawaii who lost consciousness during the ride and was later diagnosed with a subdural hematoma and brain compression. She now reports ongoing headaches and takes medication to prevent seizures. > "I’m taking it a day at a time to not overwhelm myself and to not go into a dark hole of mourning who I was and what I was able to do before this," she told CNN.

A few days later, a Los Angeles resident suffered a traumatic brain injury on the same ride and remains in a coma. The park announced the coaster’s closure on July 12 and declined to comment on the CNN investigation. State occupational safety officials have not responded to inquiries.

CNN’s review uncovered a two-decade record of injuries linked to X2, including two fatalities, and highlighted concerns about the ride’s inspection process, noting that safety data provided to regulators was based on standards set by an industry committee of park operators and manufacturers. Six Flags has faced multiple lawsuits related to the attraction; on Thursday the company settled a wrongful-death claim from the family of a 22-year-old who died in 2022 after a brain injury allegedly caused by X2, though settlement terms were not disclosed.