First Images of Titan Wreck Revealed; Last Words of Crew Also Disclosed

north charleston, south carolina - During the hearing on the Titan disaster, first images of the experimental submarine wreck were shown, along with the final words of the crew to the surface ship.

On June 18, 2023, an expedition to the iconic Titanic wreck was abruptly cut short when all communication between the submersible Titan and the surface ship was lost. Efforts to rescue the crew from the ocean floor were in vain.

Shortly after the disaster, it was evident that the submersible imploded due to the immense pressure differential, leading to the likely immediate death of the crew. Now, images of the wreck have been released for the first time, revealing a part of it - the white tail cone of the submersible standing vertically on the seabed when discovered on June 22 by a remotely operated vehicle from Pelagic Research Services, specializing in seabed exploration.

According to a reconstruction by the U.S. Coast Guard, one of the last exchanged text messages between the crew members and the surface ship Polar Prince was 'all is well.' Soon after, all communication ceased.

In October 2023, four months post-incident, debris and 'presumed human remains' were brought to the surface. DNA analysis confirmed these remains belonged to the five victims.

The current hearing is part of the investigation into the circumstances, focusing on accountability. Ten former employees of OceanGate, the expedition organizer, are testifying in the hearing in North Charleston, South Carolina. Among them, Tony Nissen, the technical director, revealed that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush had asked him to pilot the missions to the Titanic wreck, to which he declined.

Prior to the expedition, there were substantial safety and feasibility concerns regarding the dive to the Titanic wreck.