NTSB Report Blames Faulty Engineering for Titan Submersible Tragedy

Thu Oct 16 2025 04:26:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A National Transportation Safety Board report reveals inadequate testing and engineering failures led to the catastrophic implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible, resulting in the loss of five lives during its voyage to the Titanic wreck site.

The NTSB concluded that engineering flaws in the Titan submersible's pressure vessel, combined with insufficient safety protocols, resulted in a fatal implosion in June 2023, leading to the loss of five lives including OceanGate's CEO. The incident has prompted calls for stricter regulations on deep-sea explorations.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Faulty engineering led to the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible, killing five during its descent to the Titanic wreck. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that an inadequate construction of the vessel's carbon fiber composite pressure vessel, combined with insufficient testing, contributed to the disaster.

According to the NTSB’s findings, the vessel contained significant anomalies that compromised its strength and durability. The report indicated that had OceanGate followed standard guidance for emergency responses, the Titan's wreckage could have been located sooner, potentially saving time and resources, even if rescue was not possible.

This report aligns with an earlier Coast Guard investigation which deemed the implosion as preventable, highlighting the critical flaws in safety procedures at OceanGate. Subsequently, the company suspended its operations in July 2023 and faced multiple lawsuits.

The incident resulted in the deaths of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, renowned French underwater explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and two members of a prominent Pakistani family. The NTSB recommended that the Coast Guard commission an expert panel to examine submersibles for better regulations, underscoring the urgent need for stricter oversight in private deep-sea explorations.