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Nearly two years after the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, operated by the American company OceanGate Expeditions, a new video released by the U.S. Coast Guard reveals the exact moment when the sound of the catastrophe reached the ocean's surface, while the team on land monitored the vehicle's descent to the wreck of the Titanic.
The recording, released on May 22 as part of the official investigation into the case, shows Wendy Rush, director of OceanGate and wife of pilot and CEO Stockton Rush, observing data and communications alongside employee Gary Foss, reported the outlet 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 bang?" Wendy can be heard asking in the video.
The Coast Guard confirmed that the sound correlated shortly afterward with the total loss of communication and tracking, and it is believed to have been the underwater boom of the implosion traveling to the surface.
Minutes after the incident, the Titan sent its last message: it had "released two ballast weights," a maneuver to adjust buoyancy. However, contact was lost almost immediately, and the implosion is estimated to have occurred 90 minutes after the descent began.
A little earlier, when the submersible was descending to 2,178 meters, the team on the support vessel attempted three times to confirm if they could be seen on the navigation system.
The Titan's response was: "Yes, chat system and configuration lost."
One of their last messages was: “All good here,” when they were at 2,288 meters, just 1,000 meters before the collapse.
The implosion of the Titan claimed the lives of five people: Stockton Rush, CEO and pilot of OceanGate; Hamish Harding, British businessman and explorer; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, veteran French explorer and Titanic expert; Shahzada Dawood, British businessman of Pakistani descent; and Suleman Dawood, his 19-year-old son, who reportedly boarded the voyage with fear 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, with no possibility of survival.
On June 22, 2023, OceanGate issued a statement expressing its condolences, stating that “These men were true explorers, united by a deep spirit of adventure and a passion for protecting the world's oceans (…) We deeply mourn their loss and the joy they brought to those who knew them.”
The recently released video provides new answers and confirms crucial details about the final moments of the Titan, an episode that shocked the scientific community and ocean exploration advocates worldwide.
Frequently asked questions about the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible
What did the new video reveal about the implosion of the Titan submersible?
The new video released by the U.S. Coast Guard reveals the exact moment when the sound of the implosion of the submersible Titan reached the surface of the ocean. This video is part of the official investigation and shows the OceanGate team monitoring the descent of the Titan towards the wreckage of the Titanic, confirming crucial details about the incident.
Who died in the implosion of the Titan submersible?
The implosion of the Titan claimed the lives of five individuals. Among the victims were Stockton Rush, CEO and pilot of OceanGate; Hamish Harding, British businessman; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, French explorer; Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, who boarded the submersible to explore the wreckage of the Titanic.
What conclusions have been drawn regarding the cause of the Titan implosion?
The Coast Guard concluded that the implosion of the Titan was instantaneous and catastrophic, with no possibility of survival for the crew members. This event has had a significant impact on the scientific community and among those who advocate for ocean exploration, highlighting the risks associated with such expeditions.
What was OceanGate's reaction after the Titan tragedy?
OceanGate expressed its condolences through a statement. In the document, the company emphasized that the victims were true explorers united by their passion for protecting the oceans, deeply lamenting their loss and the impact it had on those who knew them.
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