Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster has remained closed since 12 July after two women suffered similar brain haemorrhages following rides six days apart. Neurosurgeons treating them said the injuries were caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration on the ride, raising renewed questions about its safety record and the decision to keep it open after the first incident.

One of the women is reportedly in a coma, while CNN found more than a dozen previous injury and hospitalisation reports linked to X2, including two fatalities, and at least 70 head and neck injury complaints recorded between 2019 and 2022. Six Flags says the coaster is regularly tested, meets industry safety rules and carries risk warnings; it has not commented on the July cases beyond confirming that the ride remains closed.