New documentary uncovers chilling details of Titan tragedy
Footage from the support ship captures the moment when the Titan submarine suffered a catastrophic implosion during its descent to the Titanic wreck.
Key information
- The sound of the Titan implosion was recorded on the support ship.
- All five people on board died instantly.
- A BBC documentary reveals new details about the submarine's technical condition.
The shocking footage from the support ship shows the moment when the Titan submarine experienced a catastrophic implosion during the dive to the Titanic wreck in June 2023. The sound of this tragedy was captured on video, which was sent to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The recording shows Wendy Rush, wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, anxiously looking at a computer receiving messages from the Titan. At one point, a deep, metallic bang is heard, and Wendy, clearly startled, asks the crew: "What was that bang?" Shortly after, a message from the submarine arrives: "dropped two wts," which was meant to suggest a controlled dive. Unfortunately, as investigators determined, the vessel had already imploded by that time.
All five people on board died instantly when the submarine collapsed under enormous pressure at a depth of about 3,300 metres. Among the victims were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
The BBC documentary, which featured this footage, also reveals new, alarming facts, including that the carbon fibre hull of the Titan began delaminating a year before the tragic dive.
Delamination at dive 80 was the beginning of the end. And everyone that stepped onboard the Titan after dive 80 was risking their life - said Lieutenant Commander Katie Williams from the USCG, as quoted by "The Sun."
Warnings from experts
Despite warnings from experts and former OceanGate employees, Titan continued its dives. Deep-sea explorer Victor Vescovo admitted: "I specifically told them that it was simply a matter of time before it failed catastrophically."
In April, billionaire Karen Lo filed a lawsuit for £1 million after her trip on the Titan was cancelled. Lo, who paid £680,000 for this journey, is seeking a refund after the vessel imploded in 2023.
