OceanGate’s Titan sub malfunctioned days before Titanic dive: Passenger was "hanging upside down"

OceanGate’s former scientific director testified that passengers were "tumbling about" during the malfunction.

A submersible that tragically imploded during a voyage to the Titanic wreck, killing all five aboard, had malfunctioned just days before its final dive, as revealed during a public inquiry.

OceanGate’s former scientific director, Steven Ross, testified that passengers were “tumbling about” during the malfunction, with one left “hanging upside down” after the sub collided with bulkheads. He added that he was unsure if the Titan’s hull was inspected for damage afterward.

A US Coast Guard inquiry is hearing two weeks of evidence regarding the fatal implosion of the Titan sub in June 2023. Ross also revealed that it took the support crew over an hour to retrieve the sub from the water following the malfunction, just days before the final dive.

Earlier in the inquiry, mission member Renata Rojas, who was aboard the support vessel, recalled watching the crew and passengers depart for their final dive to the Titanic wreck, saying: “I saw five people smiling on the way to their journey.” She said everything appeared to be functioning smoothly before communication was lost.

Rojas testified that after communications ceased, she asked, “We haven't heard from them, where are they?” She explained that rescue protocol advised waiting an hour, as passengers might have spent extra time exploring the wreck site. However, when the sub failed to resurface, discussions began about alerting the Coast Guard.

The Titan's implosion raised concerns about the submersible’s safety, design, and materials. Rojas described a 2021 expedition when the sub’s dome fell off as it was being retrieved from the water, causing the crew to lose control. The incident led to 18 bolts being installed on the dome for future missions. Rojas, a Titanic enthusiast, said she never felt unsafe during her own dives.

Earlier in the week, the inquiry heard the final messages from the sub before its implosion, with the crew stating "all good here" just minutes before disaster struck.