In a dramatic turn of events at the U.S. Coast Guard’s hearing into the Titan submersible tragedy, authorities have released the first image of the wreckage on the ocean floor.
The photo, captured by a remotely operated vehicle, shows the tail cone of the Titan embedded in the North Atlantic seabed, more than 12,000 feet below the surface.
The Titan, which imploded on June 18, 2023, during a dive to the Titanic wreck, claimed the lives of five individuals, including OceanGate founder Stockton Rush and noted explorers Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The hearing, which began on September 16, 2024, aims to uncover the factors leading to the disaster and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The hearing also revealed the Titan’s last communications with its support ship, the Polar Prince. The final messages indicated that everything was “all good here” before all contact was lost at 10:47 a.m., shortly after the vessel reported releasing two weights.
The inquiry will examine the vessel’s design, regulatory compliance, and prior operational issues. It will also explore whether any misconduct or negligence contributed to the tragedy.
OceanGate, which has since ceased operations, has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and committed to cooperating fully with the investigation.
