The CEO of the ill-fated Titan sub that imploded near the Titanic in June, the deceased Stockton Rush, previously ignored safety warnings. He recklessly navigated his submarine into the wreck of the Andrea Doria in 2016, according to a report by Vanity Fair.
David Lochridge, a former safety engineer for Rush’s company, Oceangate, claims he was on board the submersible Cyclops 1 with several clients when Rush insisted on steering the vessel and inadvertently lodged it in the wreckage.
Lochridge, after continually expressing safety concerns about Titan subs, was later dismissed by Rush.
After an hour of panic during the 2016 incident, Rush reluctantly handed control to Lochridge following a plea from a high-paying guest. Lochridge successfully guided the group to the surface.
Rush’s refusal to acknowledge the risks of his enterprise was evident when he declined to perform a thermal scan on the Titan, which would have identified weaknesses in the hull. He instead opted for acoustic testing.
Having moved his family from Scotland to Washington to work for Oceangate, Lochridge was terminated after repeatedly voicing concerns about the sub’s safety. He issued a written report after his verbal warnings were dismissed. Oceangate later sued Lochridge, but the matter was settled after he counter-sued for wrongful termination.
Tragically, on June 18, Rush’s negligence resulted in the Titan sub imploding during a dive to the Titanic wreckage site, causing the death of everyone on board, including himself.
The company ceased operations two weeks after the incident. Although the victims’ families signed waivers acknowledging the risks before the expedition, they have not filed lawsuits against Oceangate or its remaining employees.
