Passenger on a prior Titan submersion claims that an apparent problem caused the mission to be abandoned
Steven Ross, the company’s scientific director, noted that the sub experienced a malfunction shortly before the Titanic dive.
A paid passenger on an expedition to the Titanic testified before a U.S. Coast Guard investigatory panel that his mission was aborted due to a mechanical failure.
Fred Hagen, identified as a "mission specialist," shared his experience during a hearing focusing on the operations of OceanGate, the company behind the Titan submersible, which tragically imploded during a later mission to the Titanic wreck site in June 2023.
Hagen recalled that during his 2021 mission, the Titan began malfunctioning underwater and was off course. Attempts to use thrusters to navigate toward the wreck failed, leading the crew to drop weights and resurface.
He acknowledged the risks involved in entering the experimental submersible, stating, “Anyone that wanted to go was either delusional if they didn’t think that it was dangerous, or they were embracing the risk.”
The Coast Guard's public hearing, initiated on September 16, aims to investigate the cause of the Titan's implosion.
Testimonies have highlighted previous issues faced by OceanGate. Steven Ross, the company’s scientific director, noted that the sub experienced a malfunction shortly before the Titanic dive.
Former operations director David Lochridge expressed concerns about the company’s focus on profit over scientific exploration, stating, “The whole idea behind the company was to make money.”
The hearing will continue through September 27. Other witnesses included engineer Dave Dyer from the University of Washington, who mentioned disagreements over the sub's engineering that led to OceanGate terminating their collaboration.
The incident has sparked a global discussion about private undersea exploration practices. Coast Guard officials indicated that the Titan had not undergone independent reviews, which raised concerns in the undersea exploration community.
However, mission specialist Renata Rojas defended the team, describing them as dedicated individuals striving to “make dreams come true.”
Following the implosion, OceanGate suspended its operations. The Titan's last communication with the support ship Polar Prince indicated everything was “all good,” just before losing contact.
Search efforts began immediately, but wreckage was found four days later, with no survivors on board. OceanGate has stated it is cooperating fully with ongoing investigations by the Coast Guard and the NTSB.
