Titan Submersible Implosion Tragedy: A Year Later, Coast Guard Still Can't Say for Sure What Exactly Went Wrong

A year after the Titan submersible tragically imploded while on a mission to the Titanic wreck, the full details of the incident remain elusive.

Tuesday, June 18, marks one year since the Titan imploded on its way to the historic wreckage site, and the world still awaits answers regarding what went wrong during the fateful expedition that captivated global attention.

Remembering the Titan Tragedy One Year Later

The Titan disappeared during its dive to the Titanic wreck site, leading to a high-stakes, five-day search that ended in the confirmation of the submersible's destruction and the deaths of all five passengers on board.

The US Coast Guard promptly initiated a thorough investigation into the causes of the disaster, focusing on the submersible's unconventional design and the decision by its creator to bypass standard independent safety evaluations.

However, Coast Guard officials recently announced that they are not yet ready to release their findings. They indicated that a public hearing to discuss the results would likely occur in about two months, leaving many questions unanswered.

The US Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) said the investigation has proven more intricate and time-consuming than initially expected.

MBI Chair Jason Neubauer highlighted the complexity of the investigation, which involves extensive collaboration with both domestic and international partners to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident.

Various factors have extended the original 12-month timeline, including the need for two salvage missions to retrieve crucial evidence and extensive forensic testing, resulting in delays.

The MBI noted that it coordinated with several investigative agencies with overlapping jurisdiction or a substantial interest in the marine casualty. The board plans to conduct a public hearing session by the end of the year, with more details to be revealed at least 60 days in advance.

OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan, suspended its operations last July. The submersible embarked on its final dive on June 18, 2023, losing contact with its support vessel approximately two hours later.

The implosion killed OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman Dawood, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

Ohio Billionaire Aims to Explore Titanic With New Submersible

Billionaire Larry Connor plans to descend to the Titanic's wreck with a new submersible to restore confidence in deep-sea exploration. One year after the OceanGate incident, this effort aims to demonstrate the safety of the personal submarine industry.

Connor, an Ohio investor with a net worth of approximately $2 billion, wanted to reassure the public about the safety of deep-sea missions. He has collaborated with Patrick Lahey, the founder of Triton Submarines, to develop a submersible capable of safely reaching the Titanic's wreck multiple times.

Lahey noted that Connor contacted him following the Titan implosion, proposing the creation of a submersible to demonstrate the safety and reliability of such missions.