After months of closure and mounting legal scrutiny, Six Flags Magic Mountain has confirmed that X2, one of its most recognizable thrill rides, will not reopen. The coaster has been shut down since July, and what started as an unexplained closure has now turned into a permanent retirement following serious injury reports and an ongoing wave of lawsuits.Credit: Six Flags Magic MountainIf you’ve followed the situation at Magic Mountain over the past several months, or if you have a trip planned to the Valencia, California park, here’s a complete breakdown of what led to this decision and what it means going forward.The Official Announcement From Magic Mountain’s Park PresidentCredit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrSix Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding shared the news directly with the Six Flags community. “After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” Oerding wrote. He noted that since opening in 2008, X2 had welcomed more than 16 million guests and built a genuinely passionate following among coaster enthusiasts, adding that the company remains grateful to the team members who operated and maintained the ride throughout its run.Oerding was direct about the reasoning behind the closure. “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,” he said. “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2. Read Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President Brian Oerding’s blog post for more details: https://t.co/gtLWzbYnZm pic.twitter.com/L8HupTsFBQ— Six Flags Magic Mountain (@SFMagicMountain) September 29, 2026What Actually Led to This PointX2 first closed on the evening of July 12, roughly a day after a second rider suffered a severe injury within a short span of time. A CNN investigation published August 27 identified the two riders as Pamela Guillen, 40, and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25. Both women lost consciousness after riding X2 and required emergency surgery for brain hemorrhages.Guillen rode the coaster on July 5 while visiting the park with her daughter and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where surgeons discovered an acute subdural hematoma with brain compression. Six days later, Greer-Wilkinson rode X2 and collapsed after exiting the attraction, also requiring emergency brain surgery. According to CNN’s reporting, three neurosurgeons who treated the women said the injuries were consistent with what they described as a traumatic rapid acceleration deceleration event experienced on the ride.Legal Action Has Continued to GrowThe injuries reported by Guillen and Greer-Wilkinson aren’t isolated incidents tied to legal action against Six Flags. Attorney Christopher Bulone, who represents plaintiffs in brain injury lawsuits against the company, spoke with NewsNation about the risks riders may not fully understand before getting in line. “People do love roller coasters, but nobody really has any idea when they’re in line that one of the risks is potential brain bleed,” Bulone said.According to Bulone, one of his more recent clients, 25 year old Naomi Greer Wilkinson, remained on a ventilator following her emergency surgeries. His firm, Dordick Law, has reportedly been retained by more than 100 clients who say they suffered brain injuries after riding X2 within the past two years, according to managing partner Gary Dordick.Bulone also spoke to the broader expectation guests bring with them to a theme park. “People have a right when they go to a park like this to assume that before they try to do anything to try to make money, they’re going to do whatever it takes, spend whatever it takes, to make sure that people are safe,” he said.Six Flags has also previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit tied to a 22 year old man who died in 2022 after riding X2. Beyond Six Flags itself, the ongoing complaints also name S&S Worldwide, the manufacturer of X2’s ride vehicles, as a defendant.What Made X2 Such a Distinctive RideX2 stood out even among Magic Mountain’s lineup of intense attractions. Six Flags described the coaster as featuring 360 degree rotating seats, head first drops, flips, twists, and two signature raven turns, with the train dropping 200 feet and reaching speeds up to 76 miles per hour. That level of intensity, paired with its rotating seat design, made it a longtime favorite among dedicated coaster enthusiasts throughout its nearly two decade run.A Difficult Year for Magic Mountain OverallX2’s closure and now permanent retirement arrives during a genuinely eventful stretch for the Valencia park. An August power outage delayed opening at both Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles, while inclement weather forced a full day closure back in February. These incidents are unrelated to the X2 investigation itself, but together they paint a picture of a park that’s dealt with a lot of operational disruption this year.For anyone planning a visit to Magic Mountain going forward, X2 simply won’t be part of the lineup anymore. Six Flags has emphasized that attraction availability can shift without notice, making the park’s official app and closure page worth checking before any visit built around specific rides.Have thoughts on Six Flags’ decision to retire X2 permanently? Share your perspective in the comments, and if you or someone you know was affected by an incident at the park, please reach out to appropriate medical or legal resources for guidance.The post Six Flags Permanently Closes Infamous Coaster After 2 Deaths, 100+ Traumatic Brain Injuries appeared first on Inside the Magic.