Titan submersible crew’s last messages revealed during inquiry | BBC News

Summary

A public hearing has disclosed the final text messages from the ill-fated Titan submersible, which imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck, killing all five on board. The messages, exchanged with the mother ship, indicated no awareness of impending disaster. The US Coast Guard is investigating the cause and preventability of the accident. The hearing revealed a history of 118 malfunctions in the sub over two years, including a detached dome and battery failure. Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush opposed an independent safety assessment, citing cost and innovation concerns.

Takeaways

• 🚨 The Titan submersible disaster resulted in the tragic loss of all five people on board while exploring the wreck of the Titanic.
• 📱 Final text messages sent from the submersible indicated that everything was 'all good' before it imploded.
• 🔍 The US Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the disaster to determine if it could have been prevented.
• 📸 A public hearing has been initiated to reveal more details about the incident, including the first image of the wreckage on the seabed.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The victims included a British explorer, a British Pakistani businessman and his father, and a French diver.
• 🛠️ The Titan sub had a history of technical issues, with 118 problems reported during its 133 expeditions in 2021 and 2022.
• ⏱️ The timeline of the final dive was detailed, with the last message sent shortly before the sub imploded.
• 🗣️ Stockton Rush, CEO of Ocean Gate, opposed an independent safety assessment, citing time and cost as reasons.
• 💡 Despite the tragedy, Rush argued that innovation should not be stifled by extensive safety measures.
• 📅 The hearings into the Titan disaster are expected to continue for two more weeks to uncover the full extent of what went wrong.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the Titan submersible?

The Titan submersible was designed to take passengers to the wreck of the Titanic.

What happened to the Titan submersible during its dive?

The Titan submersible imploded, resulting in the tragic loss of all five people on board.

Who were the individuals that perished in the Titan submersible disaster?

The victims included British explorer Haish Harding, his father British Pakistani businessman Shazard Darwood, French diver pH Nag, and Stockton Rush, the CEO of Ocean Gate.

What was the final text message sent by the Titan before the disaster?

The last message sent by the Titan at a depth of 3,346 meters stated that it had dropped two weights.

What was the depth at which the Titan submersible imploded?

The Titan submersible imploded at a depth of approximately 3,800 meters.

What was the timeline of the Titan's final dive according to the hearing?

The Titan began its dive at 9:14 AM, with the last message sent at 10:47 AM.

What issues were previously reported with the Titan submersible?

During its expeditions in 2021 and 2022, there were 118 reported problems including the front dome falling off, thrusters failing at 3,500 meters, and batteries dying during a dive.

What was Stockton Rush's stance on an independent safety assessment for the Titan?

Stockton Rush was against an independent safety assessment, citing it as being too time-consuming, expensive, and stifling innovation.

What is the role of the US Coast Guard in the aftermath of the Titan disaster?

The US Coast Guard is assessing what went wrong with the Titan submersible and whether the accident could have been prevented.

What is the current status of the hearings into the Titan disaster?

The hearings are ongoing and are expected to continue for two more weeks.

What was the purpose of the public hearing into the Titan disaster?

The public hearing aims to establish exactly what went wrong with the Titan submersible and to determine if the accident could have been prevented.