Ex-OceanGate Director’s Stunning Testimony on Titan Sub Disaster

Close-up of clipped stacks of paper documents.

The testimony of former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge reveals the depths of negligence leading to the Titan submersible tragedy.

At a Glance

David Lochridge testified about safety concerns and clashes with OceanGate’s co-founder.
The Titan submersible imploded en route to the Titanic wreckage, killing all five on board.
Lochridge claimed the company prioritized revenue over stringent safety protocols.
The submersible had not undergone independent safety reviews.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

Neglected Safety Concerns

David Lochridge, former operations director at OceanGate, testified about critical safety concerns that the company repeatedly ignored. He clashed frequently with OceanGate’s co-founder Stockton Rush over the company’s safety practices. Lochridge stated that OceanGate placed revenue generation above scientific endeavor and safety, resulting in severe operational deficiencies.

Former employees echoed Lochridge’s sentiment, noting that the company pushed for rapid and risky deployments of the Titan. Tony Nissen, the engineering director, testified that he felt immense pressure to get the vessel operational despite recognizing its flaws and, at one point, he outright refused to pilot the submersible.

first witness today is David Lochridge, former operations director at oceangate. He attempted to blow the whistle on oceangate

— Emily Nyman (@EmSheDoesIt) September 17, 2024

Titan Submersible’s Catastrophic Failure

The Titan submersible imploded during its descent to the Titanic wreckage site, killing all five on board, including OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush. The failure of the vessel marked one of the deadliest incidents in modern deep-sea exploration. Another former employee confirmed that the Titan had multiple issues even before the doomed expedition.

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

Testimonies also indicate that financial pressures led to the ignoring of critical safety protocols. Bonnie Carl, former finance and HR director, testified that David Lochridge had labeled the submersible as “unsafe” long before the ill-fated dive. Independent reviews—a standard industry practice—were bypassed, ensuring the Titan faced pressures it was not adequately equipped to handle.

Investigations and Possible Legal Actions

The hearing’s revelations have exposed deeply troubling practices within OceanGate and raised significant questions about the oversight of commercial deep-sea exploration. Multiple investigations are underway to uncover the exact causes and accountability in this tragedy. The U.S. Coast Guard, together with the National Transportation Safety Board, are conducting extensive reviews. They aim to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure that companies adhere to rigorous safety protocols moving forward.