Stockton Rush, the mastermind behind the Titan submersible and the CEO/founder of OceanGate, was among the group of five who disappeared in the North Atlantic just one hour and 45 minutes after departing from their mothership en route to the wreck site of the RMS Titanic.
Alongside Rush were British billionaire Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and French diver and submarine pilot Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
Communication with the Titan was abruptly severed, leading to speculations that the sub’s emergency oxygen may have been depleted.
In a devastating turn of events, the missing Titanic submersible has met its fate with a “catastrophic implosion,” as stated by OceanGate. The five passengers aboard are now believed to have perished in the incident.
In a previous interview, Rush expressed his concerns about being trapped underwater in the submersible, located a staggering 12,500 feet below the surface, without the ability to resurface.
During an episode of the Unsung Science podcast, he disclosed, “My primary worries are situations that would prevent me from reaching the surface. Overhangs, fish nets, entanglement hazards. These are all piloting techniques. The protocol is clear – avoid going under overhangs and stay away from nets. By maintaining a slow and steady approach, one can effectively avoid these hazards.”
Moreover, in a December 2022 interview with CBS, Rush vehemently refuted claims of his submersible’s lack of safety measures, remarking, “At some point, prioritizing safety becomes an exercise in futility. If one simply desires absolute safety, then staying in bed is the only option. Taking risks is an inevitable part of life, and it becomes a question of balancing risk and reward. I believe I can execute this endeavor just as safely by bending the rules.”
RIP.
