Titan submersible crew’s last words before deadly implosion revealed during hearing
The last words of the crew of the Titan submersible, the vessel meant to explore the wreckage of the ill-fated cruise ship Titanic but imploded and killed all five people on board in June 2023, were revealed in a hearing by the US Coast Guard.
CBS News reported that the United States Coast Guard presented an animation on the first day of the expected two-week hearing on the cause of the implosion.
According to the presentation, Titan crew communicated via text messages with staff aboard its mother ship Polar Prince.
As Titan descended, the crew lost contact after an exchange of texts about its depth and weight.
Polar Prince sent multiple messages asking if Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display.
One of its final responses, though spotty, was "All good here."
Several figures are expected to testify in the two-week hearing, including officials from Titan's operator, OceanGate Expeditions, guard officials, scientists, and government officials.
When the hearing concludes, recommendations will be submitted to the US Coast Guard.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting its investigation.
"There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this tragic incident," Jason Neubauer, deputy chief of the Coast Guard Office of Investigations, said. "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 was designed to allow tourists to visit the Titanic wreckage. It was meant to dive up to 4,000 meters.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said submersibles—unlike submarines—have limited power reserves and need a separate support vessel to launch and recover them.
CNN International reported that Titan, roughly the size of a minivan, lost contact with its mother ship about an hour and a quarter into its descent to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean on the morning of June 18. It has about four days of emergency capability.
All five people on board were killed when the vessel imploded, which is believed to have occurred during its descent.
Casualties include businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman, British explorer Hamish Harding, French submarine expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush, chief executive officer of the sub's operator OceanGate Expeditions.
The sub's failure was confirmed on June 22, ending a days-long rescue mission that caught worldwide attention.
Some wreckage and suspected human remains were recovered later that month and in October.
The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died. It was found in 1985 and has become a lure for nautical experts and underwater tourists.
