Isha Sharma
A former OceanGate contractor, Antonella Wilby, revealed that she had raised safety concerns about the Titan submersible a year before its catastrophic implosion in June 2023, which claimed the lives of five individuals.
Ignored Concerns Over Titan’s Safety
Wilby testified that after the Titan’s 80th dive on July 15, 2022, a customer reported hearing a sound “as loud as an explosion” upon resurfacing.
Despite these concerns, Wilby said that the company’s administration dismissed the report, with one official suggesting that Wilby “didn’t have an explorer mindset.”
Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s co-founder, allegedly brushed off the incident, attributing the sound to deep-sea pressure changes or the sled hitting the sub’s frame.
Speaking during the Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation hearing on September 20, 2024, Wilby shared details of a customer’s concerns about a loud bang heard after a dive in July 2022, which she believed went unaddressed by OceanGate officials.
Wilby also expressed her frustration over the lack of action taken and described how her attempt to escalate the matter to the board of directors was discouraged due to fears of violating a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Ultimately, Wilby resigned from OceanGate, troubled by the company’s handling of safety issues.
Final Dive and Tragic Implosion
The Titan submersible met its tragic end on June 18, 2023, when it imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck in the North Atlantic.
The implosion resulted in the deaths of five people, including Stockton Rush, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, and British explorer Hamish Harding.
Human remains were later recovered from the wreckage.
OceanGate, which has since halted operations, expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and has cooperated with ongoing investigations.
The Coast Guard’s hearings, which began on September 16, 2024, aim to shed light on the events leading up to the tragedy and address lingering questions about safety and accountability.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings