LOOK: First photo of Titan submersible following its deadly implosion released
The United States Coast Guard has released the first photo 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—taken after the tragedy.
In the photo, Titan's broken tail cone is seen on the hazy blue floor of the North Atlantic Ocean. It has ragged edges and is severed from the rest of the vessel. A ripped fragment of the vessel is also nearby.
A two-week hearing on the cause of the implosion is ongoing.
CNN International reported that investigators at the hearing said the wreckage was found several hundred yards from the location of the Titanic after days of searching.
The Marine Board of Investigation said a remotely operated vehicle located the tail cone and other debris on June 22 last year. The board said this provides “conclusive evidence” that the submersible experienced a catastrophic implosion.
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 Marine Board of Investigation confirmed that the remains found were matched to the five men on board through DNA testing and analysis.
The hearing, which is expected to run until Sept. 27, includes “pre-accident historical events, regulatory compliance, crew member duties and qualifications, mechanical and structural systems, emergency response and the submersible industry,” according to the US Coast Guard.
While the main goal is to “uncover the facts surrounding the incident,” board chair Jason Neubauer said the group is also tasked with identifying “misconduct or negligence by credential mariners.”
“And if there’s any detection of a criminal act, we would make a recommendation to the Department of Justice,” Neubauer said.
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.
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.
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.