After a massive search effort that gained international attention, U.S. officials say all five individuals aboard a lost Titanic-touring vessel have died after it suffered a “catastrophic implosion.” The victims are believed to have died in less than a fraction of a second.
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the U.S. Coast Guard stated the debris recovered from the site aligned with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber.
“I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time,” a Coast Guard official said.
Despite extensive joint search efforts spanning an area approximately twice the size of Connecticut, it has been revealed that the U.S. Navy said it detected indications of the submarine’s demise days ago, mere hours after the Titan submersible embarked on its voyage.
“The U.S. Navy conducted an analysis of acoustic data and detected an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,” a senior U.S. Navy official told The Wall Street Journal in a statement. “While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission.”
This discovery would have been on or around the morning of Sunday, June 18. The confirmation of the victims’ fate was not made public until Thursday, June 22.
Meanwhile, renowned Hollywood director and Titanic researcher James Cameron said he had concerns regarding the submersible’s activities. In an interview with Reuters, he said “OceanGate shouldn’t have been doing what it was doing.”
The Titan sub was built from carbon fiber and titanium.
Cameron expressed regret for not having voiced his concerns about the use of carbon fiber technology, which he called a flawed idea.
“I was very suspect of the technology that they were using. I wouldn’t have gotten in that sub,” he said as reported by the BBC.
Prior to the incident, apprehensions were raised about the submersible’s safety, including issues related to certification, equipment failures, and potential design flaws.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, one of five passengers killed on the fatal mission to the Titanic wreckage, once spoke about “breaking some rules” to build the tourist submersible.
In a 2021 video that has now resurfaced, Rush stated “I’ve broken some rules to make this. I think I’ve broken them with logic and good engineering behind me.”
“It’s picking the rules that you break that are the ones that will add value to others and add value to society,” Rush said.
The opportunity to witness the Titanic firsthand is rare, experienced by only a select few. The Titanic International Society now believes such a voyage is something to rethink.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathy and love to the families of those lost while pursuing their Titanic passions, and pray that their memories will remain as strong and vibrant as their lives,” the Titanic International Society said in a statement.
“It is time to consider seriously whether human trips to Titanic’s wreck should end in the name of safety, with relatively little remaining to be learned from or about the wreck,” the statement added.
The individuals who boarded the Titanic submersible had signed liability waivers.
Some legal experts note there is still potential for lawsuits from the victims’ families, particularly if evidence of gross negligence or undisclosed hazards emerges.
