Titan Submersible Debris Uncovers Evidence of Sudden Implosion

The US Coast Guard has launched a public inquiry into the Titan Submersible tragedy, releasing a range of materials, including key footage from a remotely operated vehicle that shows the wreckage lying on the seabed.

In my assessment, the wreckage points to a failure originating at the junction where the carbon fiber pressure hull meets the front titanium interface ring. A substantial amount of composite debris appears to have been forced into the rear compartment, with minimal debris found around the forward section.

[corneliahanimann]

Stockton Rush was speaking truth about one thing:

He will be remembered for the rules he broke.

[kevinkatz]

No, that boot isn't from the Titan sub - it's a 2004 photo from the Titanic...

[vinylhorror]

I take better care of my Lawnmower than this dude did with his Submersible.

[FishLipznFatRipz]

I don’t think anyone thought the vessel itself turned to liquid? Just the humans inside…

[mclaughlinja]

It was stored OUTDOORS in Newfoundland for an entire winter?? This was the company’s prize asset!

[haplon]

imagine telling someone to be more "solutions oriented" and then your solution is imploding 2 miles underwater lmao

[deanh]

I'm not a submarine engineer, but I wouldn't want to be thousands of meters underwater in a laminated fabric cylinder bonded to titanium using epoxy resin.

[jboyxd]

Stockton rush has got to be one of the most ignorant cocky cheapskates in history

[tomsanders]

The phrase "Should be OK" has preceded many of history's greatest engineering failures.

[stedydubdetroit]

This story is the best way to describe a MEGALOMANIAC

[anna_]

4:30 "the fact that they took it to the titanic is mind blowing" more like _mind imploding_

[freshbakd]

Left out in winter conditions. Found half sunk later? I know people take better care of cheap fishing boats for lakes.

[jamesmurphy]

I wonder how many of Rush's former employees left "for other opportunities" without speaking up for fear of retaliation or being blacklisted in the oceanographic research world.

[thelogicaldanger]

Thank you for this update. Stockton was a crazy narcissist, and its is unfortunate he convinced anyone to go along with his idiocy.

[powerglover]

I hope Stockton was aware of how reckless and idiotic he was before he died. Even if it was just for a second.

[ExpatChef]

I've had the misfortune of working for some dodgy people in my time and the only occasions I've heard "You're not being solution focused" is when I or someone else has pushed back when the higher ups wanted us to find a way to do something illegal, immoral, hazardous or some combination of those.

[Davidbirdman]

There is no way I would ever get inside that death trap. No way. Not even a hundred feet down.
Bolted inside?? No.

[smylyface]

This is very reminiscent of the Challenger disaster. Rushing to meet deadlines and ignoring safety concerns again... when will people learn? Remember the O rings.

[Cosmic_Espeon]

You know I was gonna say the hubris that sunk the Titanic sunk the Titan but that would be an insult to the builders at Harland and Wolff. This thing was a rackety piece of crap held together by screws and prayers. Rush was a damned fool that took four others with him. Sometimes I wonder how someone can be so catastrophically negligent.

[afterthefact]

Its wild that the Titan made it to the Titanic 19 times successfully. There have been carbon fiber subs made for extreme depths before, key difference is they were designed for what amounts to be a single use. Using something like carbon fiber over and over is crazy as it can only become weaker and weaker.