Public Hearing on Titan Submersible Implosion

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a public hearing into the June 2023 implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including co-founder Stockton Rush. NASA, Boeing, and Coast Guard representatives are set to testify, with former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge alleging that the company's focus was primarily on profit rather than scientific exploration. The investigation has highlighted concerns about the Titan's unconventional design, particularly its carbon fiber hull, which had never been classified for such use. Co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein expressed hope that the tragedy would not deter future deep-sea explorations. The hearing, which began earlier this month, will continue to address the circumstances surrounding the accident and the company's operational practices. Witnesses have painted a picture of a company that rushed to launch its experimental submersible without sufficient oversight.