According to Yahoo, a Canadian film producer shared during an interview on June 23: “We have confirmed that there is a significant noise coinciding with the disappearance of the Titanic submersible. A large noise was reported above the surface of the water. The contact was lost. I know what happened. The submersible has been lost.”
Director James Cameron made 30 dives to the wreck of the Titanic (Image: EPA)
After the incident, the director sent a letter to industry colleagues on the second day, stating that they had just lost a significant number of people. “Currently, the submersible has turned into a strong wreckage down there,” he wrote in the letter.
James Cameron, who has conducted over 30 dives to the wreck of the Titanic, expressed what he had warned about the submersible being too risky. Upon hearing the news that OceanGate had created a submersible made of composite carbon and titanium, the director began to question the safety of this adventurous tourism endeavor.
“I think it was a terrifying idea. I was outspoken about it, but I believe anyone who thinks they’re smarter than me knows better, because I have never tested that technology, but outside, it sounds like a hazard,” James Cameron told Reuters.
According to The New York Times, as soon as he heard about the disappearance, Cameron immediately criticized Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, for not ensuring that the submersible was safe for tourism. The director emphasized that Rush often spoke of the need for innovation.
The statement from director James Cameron was issued amidst reports that microbeads lost under the sea by the U.S. Navy had discovered the wreckage of the Titan submersible days prior, but this information was only made public on June 22.
The Titan submersible from OceanGate (Image: PA)
The passengers aboard the Titan submersible (Image: CNN)
On the morning of June 23, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that five people aboard a submersible had perished in a tragic accident. Captain John Mauger stated, “This morning, a remotely operated vehicle from the Horizon Arctic discovered the debris of the Titan submersible about 500 meters from the Titanic wreckage. The ROV later found more debris. After consulting the opinions of experts in the field, the debris is consistent with the conditions of the tragic accident due to high pressure. I send my deepest condolences to the families.”
The Titan submersible was carrying five people, beginning its expedition to the Titanic wreck on June 18 and losing contact on the same day. The five individuals aboard the Titan included British businessman Hamish Harding, French expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, OceanGate Expeditions founder Stockton Rush, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman.
