'Preventable tragedy': damning report into Titan disaster that left five dead

Inadequate safety practices, deliberate efforts to avoid oversight and a "toxic workplace culture" were among the factors that led to the 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, according to a damning report that described the disaster as a "preventable tragedy".

- Ashifa Kassam

The submersible was on a commercial voyage to explore the wreck of the Titanic when it disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to the deaths of all five people on board. The ensuing search captured headlines around the world for days as it evolved from a potential rescue mission to a recovery operation.

US Coast Guard investigators yesterday released their final report, spanning more than 300 pages, after a two-year inquiry. What emerged was a scathing portrait of the company operating the Titan, OceanGate, and its chief executive, Stockton Rush, who was among those who died.

Based on hearings involving more than two dozen people, including former employees, the report paints a picture of OceanGate as a company where employees were threatened with dismissal and belittled for raising concerns about safety. The result was a culture of downplaying, ignoring and even falsifying vital safety information to improve its reputation and evade scrutiny from regulators.