Coast Guard Hearing Concludes on Titan Disaster

Testimony from a recent Coast Guard panel investigating the Titan submersible disaster revealed that the company OceanGate may have prioritized profits over safety, ignoring critical warning signs before the fatal implosion that killed five people. Capt. Jamie Frederick expressed disbelief that the crew of the support vessel did not report a slight shudder noticed at the time of the incident, stating it could have altered the rescue response. Former employees described a culture of recklessness, with co-founder Stockton Rush reportedly dismissing U.S. regulatory concerns and indicating he could 'buy himself a congressman' if necessary. While some witnesses framed the mission as a pursuit of exploration, others highlighted the company's commitment to profit, with one former director stating there was 'very little in the way of science.' The implications of these findings raise questions about the operational practices at OceanGate, especially concerning the carbon-fiber technology used in the submersible, which was deemed untested at such depths. The family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet, one of the victims, is suing for over $50 million, claiming gross negligence on part of the operator.