VIDEO: Newly released footage reveals final moments of Titan submersible

The US Coast Guard recently released new footage from the tragic final moments of the Titan submersible’s ill-fated descent to the Titanic wreck, which ended in a deadly implosion on June 18, 2023.

The video shows Wendy Rush, wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, anxiously trying to communicate with the crew aboard the Titan as it descended into the North Atlantic. Among the five onboard were Stockton Rush himself, British adventurer Hamish Harding, French deep-sea expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood along with his 19-year-old son Suleman. Tragically, all lost their lives in the incident.

In the footage, Mrs. Rush and OceanGate colleague Gary Foss are seen aboard the support ship Polar Prince, closely monitoring the submersible’s journey. Shortly after a loud noise is heard—described by Mrs. Rush as, “What was that bang?”—the Coast Guard suspects this sound was the implosion of the Titan reaching the ocean’s surface.

Moments following the sound, a message was received from the submersible reporting that two weights had been dropped, leading the team to believe the dive was continuing. However, investigators later determined this message had likely been sent just before the catastrophic failure.

This footage has been submitted as evidence to the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, which is still probing the disaster. A final report is expected upon the conclusion of the inquiry.

The tragedy struck roughly 90 minutes into the descent. After an intense five-day search, the wreckage was discovered on the ocean floor approximately 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic, resting nearly 3,800 meters beneath the surface.

Passengers on the Titan had paid OceanGate for the rare opportunity to visit the Titanic wreck site. The accident prompted widespread concerns regarding the Titan’s unconventional design and the company’s refusal to undergo independent safety inspections.

During two weeks of testimony in September, the Coast Guard’s investigation heard from a former OceanGate scientific director who revealed that the submersible had already experienced malfunctions just days before the fatal dive.

Following the incident, OceanGate halted all exploration and commercial missions as of July 2023.