During a U.S. Coast Guard panel hearing, Steven Ross, the scientific director of the company that owned the Titan submersible, testified that the vessel experienced a malfunction just days before its tragic implosion while en route to the Titanic wreck in June 2023. The issue caused passengers to be “tumbled about” inside the submersible, leading to a chaotic situation that required an hour to resolve.
Ross detailed how the submersible pilot, Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate, collided with the vessel’s bulkheading during the malfunction. While no injuries occurred, the experience was uncomfortable, with one passenger reportedly hanging upside down and others struggling to secure themselves.
When asked about post-incident safety assessments, Ross admitted he was unaware if the Titan had undergone any inspections after the malfunction.
The hearing has been ongoing for three days, scrutinizing the company’s operations prior to the fatal dive that claimed the lives of Rush and four others. Earlier testimony had raised concerns about the company’s management and its focus on profit over safety.
Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for OceanGate, provided a contrasting view during her emotional testimony. She described the team as competent individuals motivated to “make dreams come true,” asserting that she never felt unsafe during her time with the company.
Rojas, a member of the Explorers Club, acknowledged the risks involved but emphasized the passion of her colleagues. This sentiment stood in stark contrast to earlier witnesses, including former operations director David Lochridge, who criticized the company’s profit-driven approach, stating, “The whole idea behind the company was to make money.”
The Coast Guard has initiated a public investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Titan’s implosion, which has sparked global discussion regarding the future of private underwater exploration. Notably, it was revealed that the submersible had not undergone an independent review, raising alarms within the exploration community.
On the day of the final dive, the crew lost communication with the support ship, Polar Prince, shortly after exchanging texts about the Titan’s descent. The last message from the crew was reassuring: “all good here.” However, contact was lost, and the wreckage was later found on the ocean floor, approximately 330 yards from the Titanic site, four days after the submersible went missing.
OceanGate, which has suspended operations since the incident, is fully cooperating with ongoing investigations by the Coast Guard and NTSB. The Titan had conducted missions to the Titanic wreck site since 2021, and no survivors were found among those on board during the catastrophic dive.
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