First image of ill-fated Titan submersible released

The US Coast Guard has released the first image of the wreckage of OceanGate's Titan submersible, which catastrophically imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck in June 2023, resulting in the loss of all five lives on board. 

The photo, captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), showed the vessel's tail cone embedded in the seabed at a depth of 12,500 feet in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The image was presented on September 16, 2024, at a hearing in Charleston, South Carolina, as part of an ongoing investigation into the causes of the disaster. 

The Coast Guard said that the photographic evidence provides "conclusive evidence of a catastrophic loss" of the Titan and the deaths of its passengers.

The victims included renowned explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate. 

The Titan lost communication with its surface support ship, the Polar Prince, on June 18, 2023, shortly after beginning its descent into the Titanic wreck.

After extensive searches, the ROV located the tail cone and other debris on June 22, 2023, confirming the submersible's destruction. 

An animated video shown during the hearing detailed the Titan's final dive, highlighting communications between the submersible and the surface vessel.

Jason Neubauer, from the Coast Guard's Office of Investigations and Analysis, said the investigation's goal is to uncover the causes of the tragedy and prevent future incidents. 

OceanGate, which has since ceased operations, expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The hearing will also examine OceanGate's procedures in designing and building the Titan submersible, seeking answers about what led to the tragic implosion.