The Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate, imploded during its expedition to the Titanic wreck due to poor engineering practices, as confirmed by a report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The tragic incident occurred in June 2023, resulting in the deaths of all five passengers on board, including OceanGate's chief executive, Stockton Rush.
According to the NTSB, the engineering processes followed for Titan were termed inadequate, leading to unresolved faults that failed to meet necessary strength and durability standards. The investigation revealed that the company did not conduct adequate testing, leaving them oblivious to the vessel's actual strength and unaware of damage sustained prior to its last voyage.
The Titan vanished in the North Atlantic while attempting to dive to the Titanic wreck, located approximately 372 miles from St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. An earlier report published by the US Coast Guard labeled the incident as preventable, criticizing OceanGate for its critically flawed safety practices.
The five passengers who were aboard had each paid $25,000 for the expedition, which included deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood, alongside Hamish Harding.