A public inquiry has revealed that the submersible, Titan, which tragically imploded during a voyage to the Titanic wreck in June 2023, killing all five passengers aboard, experienced a malfunction just days before its fatal dive. Steven Ross, OceanGate's former scientific director, testified that this earlier incident caused passengers to be tossed around inside the sub as it crashed into the bulkhead, leaving one passenger hanging upside down and others struggling to stay in place. He also admitted that he was unsure if the sub’s hull was inspected for damage afterward. It took over an hour to retrieve the sub from the water after this malfunction.

The US Coast Guard inquiry, currently hearing two weeks of testimony, is investigating the fatal implosion of the experimental sub. Renata Rojas, a volunteer on the surface support vessel, testified about seeing the Titan crew depart for the Titanic, describing them as smiling and happy. She recalled how communication was lost shortly after the sub began its descent, prompting concern. Initially, the team thought the passengers might be extending their exploration and waited an hour as part of the rescue protocol. However, when the sub failed to resurface, they began considering rescue options and eventually contacted the Coast Guard.

Rojas also noted that the Titan had 96 hours of life support, but if the hull had failed, nothing could have been done to save those aboard. She recounted a 2021 incident where the dome of the submersible fell off during recovery due to insufficient bolts, a problem that led to the installation of 18 bolts for future dives. Despite these issues, Rojas described her own experiences with OceanGate as safe and transparent, saying she understood the risks involved but still chose to participate. The inquiry continues into next week.