The June 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible was a tragic result of corner cutting and a severe lack of safety measures. Their still-unfolding trial reveals that many people were knowledgeable and complacent about these unsafe conditions.
The ongoing trial seeks to discover why the sub imploded, and what safety measures can be taken in the future. So far, bribery, unconventional material sourcing, disregard for safety standards and unrest within OceanGate staff have been revealed in the trial that impacted the making of the sub.
CEO Stockton Rush piloted the craft when it imploded. Rush often had disagreements with safety measures and saw them as a setback. He did not certify nor register the craft, and claimed to a former employee that if the Coast Guard gave him any issues, he would “buy a congressman” and make the issues go away. He prized his legacy as an innovator and had faith in his craft while others did not.
Employees were discouraged from raising questions about safety, with one employee being told she “didn’t have an explorer mindset” and another being fired after raising concerns. Engineering Director Tony Nissin refused to pilot the Titan, and suspected Rush had lied about certain company operations. He was fired after refusing to allow a dive after he spotted a crack in the hull in 2019.
Second-rate materials were often sourced to build the Titan. There were flaws in the hull visible before launch. Carbon fiber and reinforced plastic were used in place of titanium or other materials that might have better resisted the pressure. A Logitech controller, found for under $20 on Amazon, was used to pilot the craft.
Experts say that it’s likely they knew they were going to die about a minute before implosion with an electrical failure that led to a lack of thrust and the angling of the sub. This led to them falling headlong when control was no longer accessible. An emergency weight drop was equipped, but was unable to be employed, and was inadequate to stabilize them. The Titan imploded, killing everyone immediately.
5 people died in an accident that was wholly preventable. The hubris of one person went unchecked and resulted in a poorly-crafted, damaged submersible that claimed lives. The family of one of the victims has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and the OceanGate company has ceased operations.
