Coast Guard Hearing Investigates June 2023 OceanGate Titan Submersible Implosion, Killing Five

Sep 17, 2024, 07:33 AM

The U.S. Coast Guard has commenced a two-week hearing to investigate the implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which occurred in June 2023 during a dive to the Titanic wreckage, killing all five people on board. The hearing, which will hear from 24 expert witnesses, aims to uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Testimonies from former OceanGate employees have revealed a history of safety concerns and equipment failures, including over 100 issues in the two years leading up to the disaster. The submersible's hull was reportedly never subjected to third-party checks. The last message from the crew, 'All good here,' was sent just moments before the implosion. Newly released images show the wreckage resting 1,600 feet from the Titanic's bow. Former employees have testified that the company's focus was on making money, with very little emphasis on safety or scientific research. Jason Neubauer of the Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Stockton Rush, OceanGate's CEO, were also mentioned in the hearing.