Oceangate sub: 'How predictable was this tragedy?'

[ggcruise]

Millions and millions of dollars spent to find (not rescue) these poor people. No one would put a cost on the possibility of saving them, no matter how remote. Yet those millions could feed, house, provide college educations, etc. etc. "Regular" human problems are highly scrutinized as to whether they should be funded, whereas five risk takers are funded without hesitation. Sigh.

[AnitaHWells]

Thank you Katie for saying the obvious out loud!
It is the Tax Payer’s who pick up the bill for such excursions by the$e Billionaire’s who signed a waiver and understood the risks!
I believe we know the outcome and it’s bleak!

RIP

[terryt]

Great interview! I was very glad to hear that virtually no one else is visiting the Titanic wreck; with Ocean Gate's future prospects all but dead, they're all but certainly forever out of that
business. All the better. It's long past time to leave the Titanic be.

[girlcheck]

Hi Katie! I'm just a lowly business analyst however when I heard about this it was the most stupid thing I ever heard of in my life. The arrogance is astounding! It's almost like a really bad joke you know isn't going to end well. The lack of risk management and safety plan B plan C or something is appalling! If I was the mother of any one of them adult or not, I would have forbidden it. It makes me so mad!!

[letzigstudio]

Thank you, Katie and David Pogue. As usual to Katie's coverage, a variety of angles and perspectives. Each handled with journalistic grace and integrity.

[pattiderosamusic]

Greetings from Italy. 🇮🇹 Thank you Katie for bringing up the ethical conflict regarding the reactions to migrants dying at sea while risking it all for a chance at a better life vs. adventure seekers lost on an expensive voluntary trip - while we’re continually told there’s little money for saving migrant lives in the Mediterranean where thousands die each year vs. the interest in and high costs of the rescue efforts of this one submergible. Horrible to contemplate the loss of life at sea for anyone, rich or poor…but the different levels of interest, empathy, and resources are particularly striking this week. PS - Days of mourning, flags at half staff, etc. to honor the dead after yet another shipwreck is pretty much Europe’s version of the US’s “thoughts and prayers” after yet another mass shooting. In both cases, what we really need is effective, humane, and ethical policies. ☮️

[donnabaardsen]

I have no sympathy for anyone who engages in thrill seeking, dangerous pursuits. However, I DO have it for those who are expected to rescue these foolish people. Anyone who seeks their thrills via escapades that serve no purpose whatsoever, must then do so accepting that they may not survive, or be rescued.

[adriennem]

I work in aviation maintenance and the fuselage of an aircraft has a life limit, ultimately due to the amount of cycles the tube goes through expansion and contraction. On that note, prior to the end of life, there are scheduled inspections with eddy current to check for cracks or weak points. If there is no analysis program or maintenance manual for these submersibles, this should be a new law.

[alexandrawallner]

Thank you, Katie Couric, for this thoughtful interview and the questions you asked.

[JacksMomPat]

Hi Katie, thanks for having David to help explain more details on what he knows about this situation. It sounds so very grim right now. I just cannot imagine what the outcome is going to be unless there is an ultimate miracle at this point. I cannot imagine taking this type of risk whether I could afford it or not. This is very terribly tragic and sad for the five souls aboard and their families. 😢

[PeaceFan]

You couldn't pay me 10 MILLION Dollars to get into that Death Tube!! NO WAY!!!

[adelaferreira]

Thank you so much Katie for telling everybody what is really happening about this tragedy !

[forcealchemist]

I've heard David explain his experiences several times now and watched his piece from November, but I'm shocked that he hasn't become more skeptical of OceanGate's safety claims. OceanGate fired David Lochridge after he raised safety concerns to the CEO in 2018 and then the CEO sued him to try to keep him silent. There were supposedly 7 different failsafes for the Titan, but I'm not convinced the failsafes were even tested considering what came to the surface in the Lochridge lawsuit.

[Wizardofgosz]

Skeptical story?!?!?!?!?

He wasn't skeptical at all. He failed miserably as a journalist. He laughed at all of Rush's narcissistic "who needs rules and regulations" jokes, reinforcing his narcissism.

If Pogue was doing his job he would have asked about the former employee who was let go, and any of the other dozen experts who saw this coming. Then you would have seen Stockton Rush's anger rise, like it does in all narcissists when you call out their BS.

David Pogue is frankly lucky to be alive. He has no idea how close he came to death.

As for the security theater that they did when he was there (the 3 strikes thing), how adherent to it do they stick when the cameras aren't on?

Also, those 3 organizations that Rush claimed helped him design the carbon fiber cylinder came out and said that was bullshit. When he made those claims why didn't you ask for some citations and proof of that?

[cherylburkhead]

For those dreaming of a better life or a roof or water, just one of those trips would have provided for many and been a great adventure in humanity.

[jabbermocky]

How predictable? Predictable enough to make all people onboard sign waivers acknowledging that death is a possible result. Highly possible. The word "death" is mentioned 3 times on one single page of the waiver. If they didn't take it seriously, they made a fatal error. So sad. Eminently predictable.

[drguffey]

This guy, like those on the lost submersible, believed the safety hype of OceanGate.

[leanelouw]

I hope this will be the line drawn and a clear message to leave the ship at peace.

[twilfits]

So much money for stupid things.
And this is stupid just for bragging rights.
Brag about things that matter.
Dig a well for people who walk miles to drink sewage.

[tracypattin]

LOVE LOVE your show Katie. I'm as obsessed as you are about this story. It is indeed very different from an airplane. Jets always have many backup systems.