The Titan submersible operated by OceanGate tragically imploded on its journey to the wreck of the Titanic, leading to the loss of all five passengers aboard. According to a recent report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the incident was the result of inadequate engineering and a lack of proper testing.
The investigation revealed that the engineering processes behind Titan were critically flawed, causing the submersible to fail to meet necessary strength and durability standards. Furthermore, the NTSB criticized OceanGate for not thoroughly testing the vessel, resulting in a lack of awareness regarding its actual strength and the potential damage that should have led to its removal from service.
The Titan vanished in June 2023 while attempting to dive to the Titanic wreck, located approximately 372 miles from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The NTSB’s findings align with a previous report from the US Coast Guard, which labeled the incident as 'preventable' and condemned OceanGate’s safety practices.
Stockton Rush, the chief executive of OceanGate, was commanding the Titan on its last voyage, which included paying passengers such as deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, businessman Hamish Harding, and the Dawood family, who each contributed $25,000 to take part in the dive.
