OceanGate Testimonies Detail Titan Implosion Causes

At a U.S. Coast Guard hearing, OceanGate's former engineering director Phil Brooks and co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein testified about decisions leading to the Titan submersible's implosion in June 2023. Brooks attributed the disaster to cost-cutting measures and safety compromises driven by financial pressures, while Sohnlein highlighted the company's ambitious vision to democratize deep-sea exploration despite the use of controversial materials like carbon fiber. Testimonies revealed a culture prioritizing profits over safety, with warnings frequently ignored. Sohnlein, who left OceanGate in 2013, defended the company’s mission and the choice of materials, while former employees described a troubled environment with inadequate safety reviews. The hearings aim to scrutinize the causes of the implosion, which resulted in the deaths of CEO Stockton Rush and four others.