New, harrowing details have emerged regarding the final moments of the Titan submersible’s crew before the vessel tragically imploded during its dive to the Titanic wreck site on June 18, 2023. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, one of the five victims, accuses OceanGate, the operator of the submersible, of gross negligence. The lawsuit, which seeks $50 million in damages, alleges that the crew was likely aware of the vessel’s impending failure.
According to the lawsuit, the Titan submersible “dropped weights” 90 minutes into its dive, an action suggesting that the crew had attempted to abort the mission due to recognizing a problem. The suit claims that the crew may have heard the carbon fiber hull of the submersible making increasingly intense crackling noises as the water pressure mounted. The passengers, the lawsuit asserts, likely experienced “terror and mental anguish” as they realized the vessel was irreversibly compromised before it ultimately imploded.
The family of Nargeolet, who had previously visited the Titanic wreckage on multiple occasions, also contends that OceanGate failed to adequately inform him of the risks associated with the Titan submersible’s durability. They argue that had he been fully aware of the potential dangers, he would not have participated in the expedition.
OceanGate has been criticized for not launching a search for the missing submersible until the day after it lost contact, and the U.S. Coast Guard found a debris field on June 22, confirming the vessel’s destruction. The lawsuit claims that although Nargeolet may have died doing what he loved, the deaths of the Titan crew were wrongful and preventable.
OceanGate has not yet responded to the lawsuit, which highlights the need for stricter safety regulations and transparency in the operation of deep-sea exploration vehicles.
