Nearly two years following the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, operated by the American company OceanGate Expeditions, a fresh video released by the U.S. Coast Guard unveils the exact moment the catastrophic sound reached the ocean's surface. The land-based team was monitoring the vehicle's descent toward the Titanic wreckage at that time.
Published on May 22 as part of the official investigation, the footage shows Wendy Rush, OceanGate's director and wife of pilot and CEO Stockton Rush, reviewing data and communications alongside employee Gary Foss, as reported by NBC Miami.
At 9:17 a.m. ET on June 18, 2023, both heard a dull thud as the submersible reached a depth of 3,300 meters. "What was that thud?" Wendy can be heard asking in the video. The Coast Guard confirmed that this sound was soon linked to the complete loss of communication and tracking, believed to be the underwater echo of the implosion resonating to the surface.
Minutes after the thud, the Titan sent its final message, stating it had "dropped two ballast," a maneuver intended to adjust buoyancy. However, contact was almost immediately lost, and it is estimated that the implosion occurred 90 minutes after the descent began.
Just prior, as the submersible descended to 2,178 meters, the support ship crew attempted thrice to confirm visibility on the navigation system. The Titan's response was: "Yes, system and chat configuration lost." One of the last messages was: "All good here," at 2,288 meters, merely 1,000 meters before the collapse.
The Titan's implosion claimed the lives of five individuals: Stockton Rush, CEO and pilot of OceanGate; British businessman and explorer Hamish Harding; veteran French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet; British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, who reportedly joined the expedition with apprehension to accompany his father on Father's Day.
In an animation presented to the media, the Coast Guard concluded that the implosion was instantaneous and catastrophic, leaving no chance for survival. On June 22, 2023, OceanGate issued a statement expressing condolences, saying, "These men were true explorers, bound by a deep spirit of adventure and passion for protecting the world's oceans... We deeply mourn their loss and the joy they brought to those who knew them."
The newly released video provides further answers and confirms vital details about the Titan's final moments, an event that shocked the scientific community and ocean exploration advocates worldwide.
Understanding the OceanGate Submersible Disaster
What caused the Titan submersible to implode?
The exact cause of the implosion remains under investigation, but it is believed that structural failure at extreme depths led to the catastrophic event.
Who were the victims of the Titan implosion?
Victims included Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman Dawood.
What was OceanGate's response to the tragedy?
OceanGate expressed their condolences, honoring the deceased as passionate explorers dedicated to ocean conservation.