Footage from a 2022 BBC documentary revealed a harrowing incident that occurred during an earlier voyage of the Titan submersible that visited the Titanic wreckage 12,500 under the sea.
The Titan’s last and final voyage was the focus of the world last month, as its implosion caused the death of all of its passengers.
In a previous dive, tragedy struck the ill-fated Titan submersible when the pilot lost control, causing the vessel to spin in circles. Terrified passengers were trapped onboard for hours as the submersible descended to a depth of 12,500 feet. The trouble began when the Titan’s thrusters malfunctioned, leaving the pilot, Scott Griffith, puzzled and exclaiming, “We have a problem.” It was later discovered that one of the thrusters had been improperly mounted, causing the submersible to spin uncontrollably.
The five-person crew, just feet away from the Titanic’s ruins, had to endure hours of uncertainty as OceanGate’s CEO, Stockton Rush, worked to rectify the issue from the mother ship. Passenger Reneta Rojas expressed her fear, stating, “We’re literally 300 meters from the Titanic… we can’t go anywhere but go in circles.”
Fortunately, Rush managed to reprogram the control system, allowing the crew to regain control and proceed with their mission. The passengers were finally able to witness the wreckage of the Titanic during that same dive, bringing a sense of relief and joy.
However, the dangers of the dive were evident from the beginning. The crew had been warned of the experimental and hazardous nature of the submersible. Videographer Jaden Pan described the moment of entering the enclosed submersible as the “point of no return,” emphasizing the risks involved.
Following the incident, CEO Rush dismissed concerns about the thruster malfunction, claiming that such issues were common among deep-sea subs. However, in a separate interview, he admitted to breaking rules during the submersible’s creation.
This previous disaster, now documented in the BBC film, adds to the intense criticism faced by Rush, now deceased in the Titan’s tragedy, and the company for disregarding safety concerns. Rush and four others, including British billionaire Hamish Harding and Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, lost their lives in the final voyage of the Titan on June 18.
