The US Coast Guard has released a haunting first glimpse of the Titan submersible, marking the vessel’s reappearance after its fatal implosion in June 2023, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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In the newly released video, the broken tail cone of the Titan submersible lies scattered on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by fragments of the ill-fated vessel.
Watch:
The haunting images emerged as authorities commenced a public hearing into the tragic deaths of the five people aboard.
The footage is part of a two-week investigation led by the US Coast Guard, which began on Monday, aiming to uncover the cause of the submersible’s catastrophic implosion and to provide recommendations for potential litigation, USA Today reports.
The hearing is set to feature testimony from 24 witnesses, including several former OceanGate employees, as authorities seek answers surrounding the tragedy.
In a statement released Monday, the company said,’OceanGate expresses our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in the tragic implosion of the Titan. There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this devastating incident, but we hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy.’
On June 18, 2023, five people boarded OceanGate’s submersible for a $250 000-per-person expedition to the Titanic wreck, 12 500 feet underwater.
Among the passengers were British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani nationals Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.
The submersible, made of carbon fibre and titanium, was controversial for its design and was piloted using a video game controller.
About 90 minutes into the dive, communication was lost, and the vessel is believed to have imploded shortly after.
A large-scale search followed, but on 22 June 2023, debris from the Titan was found 1600 feet from the Titanic’s bow, and the passengers were declared lost.
Some human remains were later recovered.
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Picture: Screenshot