Tragic Vessel Collapse: Baffling Final Utterances of OceanGate Passengers Reveal Their Pre-Implosion Mental States
In a chilling turn of events, the OceanGate Titan, a deep-sea submersible, imploded under the immense pressure of the deep sea near the Titanic wreckage on June 18, 2023. The incident, which occurred approximately 3,346 meters underwater, claimed the lives of all aboard.
In the hours leading up to the disaster, former OceanGate employee Bonnie Carl expressed concerns about the project's leader, Wendy Rush, and her pursuit of fame. Carl suggested that Rush was determined to carry out the project regardless of the risks, a concern that would prove prophetic.
The last known communications from the Titan before its implosion were a series of messages to the Polar Prince, the support vessel. At around 10:15 a.m., the Titan reported having trouble with their communication system and losing their settings. Later, in response to the Polar Prince's request for status, the Titan replied with a simple "yes" and "all good here." The Titan's last message to the Polar Prince was "dropped two wts," referring to weights.
Three hours into the dive, the Titan sent the message "Dropped two WTS," with WTS standing for weight system, implying an effort to rise. This was received just seconds before the catastrophic implosion occurred. The crew's last words, "All good here," were somewhat reassuring but proved tragically premature. Communication was lost approximately five seconds after this final message, and the submersible never surfaced as scheduled, prompting a search and rescue operation.
The implosion was detected via a loud bang by US Navy underwater microphones. Expert analysis later revealed that the implosion occurred less than two hours into the descent. The development of the project, which started in 2016, had been plagued with safety concerns, including issues with the carbon fiber and the end caps being affixed with glue.
In the tragic moments before the implosion, Tym Catterson, a contract safety diver and submersible pilot for OceanGate, recounted helping one of the victims. Meanwhile, Wendy Rush's wife, Wendy, heard a boom that was likely the implosion. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in deep-sea exploration and the importance of prioritising safety above all else. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this devastating incident.
Despite the ongoing investigation into the exact cause of the accident, some speculate that OceanGate's leader, Wendy Rush, might have prioritized style and entertainment over safety, given her pursuit of fame in movies-and-tv related to deep-sea exploration. Following the implosion, questions have been raised about the safety of the project, with concerns around earlier issues with the submersible's carbon fiber and end caps.
