First footage of destroyed Titan sub has been released just days after final words from crew were revealed
The US Coast Guard has released previously unseen footage of the destroyed Titan submersible which imploded last year during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck.
The news comes amid a ongoing investigation aimed at 'uncovering the facts surrounding the incident', which yesterday also heard audio released of the five passengers' final moments.
In June last year, US marine discovery firm OceanGate - fronted by CEO Stockton Rush - carried passengers Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood down to the infamous ship's wreckage, which sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic in 1912.
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However, within hours of their own vessel - a tiny 22ft long, 9ft wide and 8ft high sub - setting off from the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the Titan lost contact with its mothership.
Following a lengthy week-long search led by the US Coast Guard, it was sadly determined that a 'catastrophic implosion' of the sub had occurred.
This conclusion was reached after cameras scanning the ocean floor in the area the vessel lost contract discovered debris, as well as some traces of human remains, confirming that all five passengers had been killed.
Now, an ongoing inquiry in South Carolina into the tragedy - during which further evidence is scheduled to come to light - has seen footage of this debris released to the public for the very first time.
In a clip recorded by a remotely operated vehicle and released by the maritime security body, the sub could be seen on the ocean floor with the tail cone sticking out of the sand at the bottom.
As the camera pans, another hefty panel from the wreckage could also be seen, having become detached amid the implosion.
The latest development comes after the final words uttered by the Titan's crew to the mothership - known as the Polar Prince - were released.
After an exchange of repeated inquiries about the submersible's depth and weight by Polar Prince staff as it descended, the final audio was reportedly heard.
After the Polar Prince repeatedly asked if the Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display, the sub informed them they were 'all good here' in a response that was increasingly 'spotty' as the ship descended.
Jason Neubauer - member of the Coast Guard Office of Investigations - told press earlier this week that the investigation hopes to 'develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future'.
"There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this tragic incident," he said earlier this year.
"But we hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy and prevent anything like this from happening again."
Titan sub inquiry - everything we know from the investigation so far
A public hearing into the five deaths of the people onboard OceanGate's ill-fated Titan submersible began on Monday (16 September).
It is expected to last two weeks.
Titan was 'unregistered, non-certificated and unclassed'
The first day of the hearing (16 September) heard how the submersible was built in 2020 and was 'unregistered, non-certificated and unclassed', as well as having no identification number.
The submersible's hull was never subject to third-party checks and officials said it was left exposed to the elements while in storage for seven months in 2022 and 2023.
Parts of Titan 'bonded together using an adhesive'
In 2017, the year OceanGate announced it would be conducting trips to the Titanic, employees bonded together the submersible's carbon fibre hull and titanium rings 'using an adhesive'.
Titan found 'partially sunk' month before tragedy
During its 2023 expedition, the Titan was found 'partially sunk' in the ocean.
Image released of Titan debris on sea floor
An image showing debris, including the Titan's tail cone, on the sea floor after the implosion was revealed.
Titan lost contact with support ship
Those onboard the Titan were communicating with support staff on the Polar Prince ship by text messages.
After a number of exchanges, Titan crew lost contact with Polar Prince as it descended.
One of last texts from submersible revealed
One of Titan’s final responses was revealed to be: "All good here."
Titan 'struck by lightning'
Tony Nissen, OceanGate Expeditions’ former engineering director, testified that the Titan was hit by lightening during a test mission in 2018.
Nissen, who was allegedly fired in 2019 after not letting the submersible go to the Titanic, told OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush it was 'not working like we thought it would'.
When asked to pilot the submersible, Nissen said: “I’m not getting in it.”
Titan engineer 'felt pressure to get submersible ready for wreck dive'
When asked if there was pressure to get the Titan into the water, Nissen replied: “100%.”
Waivers
While Bonnie Carl, OceanGate's former human resources and finance director, said she was aware of a waiver people had to sign, she testified she 'never saw anyone sign anything'.
"When I was taking money, we hadn't even finished building the Titan," Carl claimed.
'No red flags' on day Titan went missing
Former OceanGate contractor Tym Catterson said: "There were no red flags... it was a good day."
The hearing continues.
Topics: News, US News, World News, Titan submersible
Rhianna Benson