Michael Guillen, Titanic Diver, Highlights Troubling Evidence in the OceanGate Expeditions Submarine Case
A scientist and journalist who dived into the wreckage of the Titanic two decades ago stated on Wednesday (21) that there must have been a “general catastrophic failure” for the OceanGate Expeditions submarine to disappear last Sunday (18).
According to Dr. Michael Guillen, former science editor at ABC News, who got caught in the Titanic’s propeller and survived the 2000 expedition, there is compelling evidence in this case.
One notable piece of evidence, Dr. Guillen emphasized, is the fact that the vessel lost communication so early during the descent, a process that typically takes between two and three hours.
Furthermore, Guillen explained that a mere communication failure is not as plausible, considering that the Titan submarine was designed to automatically resurface in case of a crisis, which did not occur.
The underwater sounds detected in the North Atlantic search area are considered a positive sign, according to Guillen, but he stresses that “there are no guarantees” since the recovery of the submarine, if found, involves a significant level of complexity.
Based on the company’s specifications, the submersible had 96 hours of air, indicating that oxygen could run out by Thursday morning. However, Guillen clarified that this timeframe may vary depending on factors such as the occupants of the submarine breathing heavily due to stress.
Questions regarding the safety of the Titan were raised in a 2018 lawsuit filed by David Lochridge, the former director of maritime operations at OceanGate, who claimed to have been fired for expressing concerns about the hull’s ability to withstand extreme depths.
In its own legal action against Lochridge, OceanGate refused to accept the chief engineer’s assurances and accused him of improperly sharing confidential information. In November 2018, both parties reached a settlement without disclosing the details of the dispute.
Months prior to the lawsuit, a group of submarine industry leaders wrote to OceanGate, warning that the “experimental” approach to submarine development could result in issues ranging from minor incidents to catastrophic situations, as reported by The New York Times.