The Titan submersible disaster — which claimed the lives of five people during a descent to the Titanic wreck — was “preventable”, according to findings from a U.S. Coast Guard report, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Coast Guard launched a top-level investigative board after the sub’s catastrophic implosion in 2023 off the coast of Canada.

Criticism of OceanGate Over Sub Safety

In its report, the Coast Guard harshly criticized nearly every aspect of OceanGate’s operations and listed eight different contributing factors for the Titan’s destruction — while denying any liability on its own part.

However, it identified the main cause as OceanGate’s failure to follow “established engineering protocols” for safety and testing. According to an excerpt quoted by the BBC, the Titan — along with earlier versions — was made of carbon fiber, a material that had never been used in deep-sea submersibles before.

It’s known that carbon fiber is unsuitable for extreme pressure, and its layers can separate through a process known as delamination.

Loud Bang Heard by Passengers – CEO Also Blamed

Despite successfully diving to the Titanic 13 times in the two years prior to the tragedy, the Coast Guard criticized the company for continuing to operate the vessel without inspecting its hull, even after identifying several safety issues.

During the 80th dive — less than a year before the fatal incident — passengers reported hearing a loud bang. At the time, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush claimed it was the sub “shifting in its frame.” Later sensor data revealed it was a structural delamination event.

The report places blame directly on Rush, stating that in his dual role as CEO and pilot, he “demonstrated negligence that contributed to the deaths of four other individuals.”

The Titan’s Doomed Voyage That Shook the World

In June 2023, OceanGate’s Titan submersible began its mission to visit the wreck of the Titanic — but it never resurfaced.

All five passengers, including CEO Stockton Rush, died after the vessel imploded at a depth of approximately 3,800 meters.

The Titan investigation drew global attention. The wreckage was later found on the ocean floor, about 300 meters from the Titanic, according to officials.

The tragedy also led to lawsuits and growing calls for stricter regulation of the expanding private deep-sea exploration industry.