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Passenger on a previous Titan sub dive says his mission was aborted due to apparent malfunction

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Passenger on a previous Titan sub dive says his mission was aborted due to apparent malfunction
News

News

Passenger on a previous Titan sub dive says his mission was aborted due to apparent malfunction

2024-09-21 06:31 Last Updated At:06:40

A paid passenger on an expedition to the Titanic with the company that owned the Titan submersible testified before a U.S. Coast Guard investigatory panel Friday that the mission he took part in was aborted due to an apparent mechanical failure.

The Titan submersible imploded last year while on another trip to the Titanic wreckage site. A Coast Guard investigatory panel has listened to four days of testimony that raised questions about the company’s operations before the doomed mission.

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Triton Submarines chief executive officer Patrick Lahey departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Triton Submarines chief executive officer Patrick Lahey departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan, seated at left, faces officials while testifying before the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan, seated at left, faces officials while testifying before the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Attorney Jane Schvets asks a question during the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Attorney Jane Schvets asks a question during the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Dave Dyer, an engineer based at the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Dave Dyer, an engineer based at the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan leaves the chambers after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan leaves the chambers after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, wipes tears away during testimony at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, wipes tears away during testimony at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, center, pauses during at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, center, pauses during at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Jason Neubauer, board chairman, left, and Thomas Whalen, board member, right, listen during the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Jason Neubauer, board chairman, left, and Thomas Whalen, board member, right, listen during the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

In a still from from a video animation provided by the United States Coast Guard an illustration of the Titan submersible, right, is shown near the ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean, as June 18, 2023 communications between the submersible and the support vessel Polar Prince, not shown, are represented at left. (United States Coast Guard via AP)

In a still from from a video animation provided by the United States Coast Guard an illustration of the Titan submersible, right, is shown near the ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean, as June 18, 2023 communications between the submersible and the support vessel Polar Prince, not shown, are represented at left. (United States Coast Guard via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

This June 2023 image provided by Pelagic Research Services shows remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 image provided by Pelagic Research Services shows remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (Pelagic Research Services via AP)

Fred Hagen was first to testify Friday and was identified as a “mission specialist,” which he and other witnesses have characterized as people who paid a fee to play a role in OceanGate’s underwater exploration. He said his 2021 mission to the Titanic was aborted underwater when the Titan began malfunctioning and it was clear they were not going to reach the fabled wreck site.

The Titan appeared to be off course on its way to the Titanic, so the crew decided to use thrusters so the submersible could make its way to the wreck, Hagen said. The starboard thruster failed to activate, he said.

“We realized that all it could do was spin around in circles, making right turns,” Hagen said. “At this juncture, we obviously weren't going to be able to navigate to the Titanic.”

Hagen said the Titan dropped weights, resurfaced and the mission was scrapped. He said he was aware of the potentially unsafe nature of getting in the experimental submersible.

“Anyone that wanted to go was either delusional if they didn't think that it was dangerous, or they were embracing the risk,” he said.

OceanGate co-founder and Titan pilot Stockton Rush was among five people who died when the submersible imploded en route to the site of the Titanic wreck in June 2023.

Earlier this month, the Coast Guard opened a public hearing that is part of a high-level investigation into the cause of the implosion. The public hearing began Sept. 16 and some of the testimony has focused on problems the Washington state company had prior to the fatal 2023 dive.

During Thursday's testimony, company scientific director Steven Ross told the investigators the sub experienced a malfunction just days before the Titanic dive. Earlier in the week, former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge said he frequently clashed with Rush and felt the company was committed only to making money.

“The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” Lochridge testified. “There was very little in the way of science.”

The hearing is expected to resume next week and run through Sept. 27.

Other witnesses Friday included former OceanGate contractor Antonella Wilby, who worked in operations and engineering for the company. WIlby said she was criticized by company officials when she came forward about concerns about a banging noise during a 2022 submersible dive.

Hagen said during his own testimony that he feared the hull had cracked when he heard a loud bang during a 2022 dive. Wilby said OceanGate's director of administration told her “you don't seem to have an explorer mindset” after she raised the concern about noise.

She said she also never saw anyone inspect the sub's hull after the banging noise, which she described as similar to an explosion.

“I saw what I would classify as safety theater,” Wilby said.

Dave Dyer of the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab also testified Friday to provide details about the lab's relationship with OceanGate while its submersible was in development and said the company and lab disagreed about fundamental aspects of its engineering.

OceanGate felt it was better to terminate the relationship and take over the engineering itself, Dyer said.

“It was the engineering. We were butting heads too much,” Dyer said.

Another Friday witness, Triton Submarines chief executive officer Patrick Lahey, recounted meeting OceanGate personnel in 2019 and getting a look at their submersible when it was in development. He said he “wasn't particularly impressed” by what he saw.

Lahey stressed that it's important for submersibles to be accredited to ensure safety.

“I just said it looked to me like a lot of the stuff was not quite ready for primetime. And that there were many things in it that I thought had not been executed as appropriately as they should be,” Lahey said.

Lochridge and other witnesses have painted a picture of a company led by people who were impatient to get the unconventionally designed craft into the water. Lochridge said he filed a complaint with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration about the company. OSHA “promptly referred his safety allegations regarding the Titan submersible to the Coast Guard,” a spokesperson for the agency said Thursday.

The deadly accident set off a worldwide debate about the future of private undersea exploration. Coast Guard officials noted at the start of the hearing that the submersible had not been independently reviewed, as is standard practice. That and Titan’s unusual design subjected it to scrutiny in the undersea exploration community.

OceanGate suspended its operations after the implosion. The company has no full-time employees currently, but has been represented by an attorney during the hearing.

During the submersible’s final dive on June 18, 2023, the crew lost contact after an exchange of texts about the Titan’s depth and weight as it descended. The support ship Polar Prince then sent repeated messages asking if the Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display.

One of the last messages from Titan’s crew to Polar Prince before the submersible imploded stated, “all good here,” according to a visual recreation presented earlier in the hearing.

When the submersible was reported missing, rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to an area about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Four days later, wreckage of the Titan was found on the ocean floor about 330 yards (300 meters) off the bow of the Titanic, Coast Guard officials said. No one on board survived.

OceanGate said it has been fully cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since they began. The Titan had been making voyages to the Titanic wreckage site going back to 2021.

Triton Submarines chief executive officer Patrick Lahey departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Triton Submarines chief executive officer Patrick Lahey departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan, seated at left, faces officials while testifying before the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan, seated at left, faces officials while testifying before the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Attorney Jane Schvets asks a question during the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Attorney Jane Schvets asks a question during the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Dave Dyer, an engineer based at the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Dave Dyer, an engineer based at the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, departs after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan leaves the chambers after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Fred Hagan leaves the chambers after testifying at the Titan marine board of investigation hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, wipes tears away during testimony at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, wipes tears away during testimony at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, center, pauses during at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Renata Rojas, OceanGate mission specialist, center, pauses during at the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Jason Neubauer, board chairman, left, and Thomas Whalen, board member, right, listen during the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

Jason Neubauer, board chairman, left, and Thomas Whalen, board member, right, listen during the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (Corey Connor via AP, Pool)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

In a still from from a video animation provided by the United States Coast Guard an illustration of the Titan submersible, right, is shown near the ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean, as June 18, 2023 communications between the submersible and the support vessel Polar Prince, not shown, are represented at left. (United States Coast Guard via AP)

In a still from from a video animation provided by the United States Coast Guard an illustration of the Titan submersible, right, is shown near the ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean, as June 18, 2023 communications between the submersible and the support vessel Polar Prince, not shown, are represented at left. (United States Coast Guard via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP)

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

Titan submersible testimony to enter fourth day after panel hears of malfunction and discord

This June 2023 image provided by Pelagic Research Services shows remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (Pelagic Research Services via AP)

This June 2023 image provided by Pelagic Research Services shows remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. (Pelagic Research Services via AP)

Next Article

Senators extend win streak to 6 games with 5-4 OT victory over Canucks

2024-12-22 14:10 Last Updated At:14:20

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime and the Ottawa Senators stretched their win streak to six games with a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

It’s the first time since March 2017 that Ottawa has won six in a row.

Shane Pinto scored twice for the Senators, Claude Giroux added a goal and Josh Norris scored short-handed. Sanderson also contributed a pair of assists.

Leevi Merilainen stopped 21 shots to earn his first NHL victory.

Brock Boeser scored twice for the Canucks, and Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists. Jake DeBrusk rounded out the scoring for a Vancouver side that lost its third straight outing (0-1-2). Kevin Lankinen made 17 saves.

Canucks: The team has lost four of its last five outings and some of its top stars have gone cold offensively. J.T. Miller has not scored in the six games he’s played since returning from a 10-game absence, Elias Pettersson does not have a point in his last six outings and Conor Garland last recorded a goal on Nov. 29.

Senators: Merilainen stepped in for Linus Ullmark, who has been a superstar for Ottawa in recent weeks. Heading into Saturday, Ullmark had powered the team to five straight victories after backup Anton Forsberg went down with an injury during a pre-game skate on Dec. 14.

Boeser knotted the score at 4 with 4:50 left in the game when he blasted a rebound past Merilainen.

Hughes now has 40 points on the season (eight goals, 32 assists). He is the seventh defenseman in NHL history to hit the mark in 33 or fewer games in multiple seasons.

The Senators visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, and the Canucks host the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) stops the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) stops the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, right, celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators with Quinn Hughes (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, right, celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators with Quinn Hughes (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) celebrates his game-winning goal with Brady Tkachuk (7) after overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) celebrates his game-winning goal with Brady Tkachuk (7) after overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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