OceanGate Titan submersible underwater.
Share this @internewscast.com

CHILLING new audio captures the moment OceanGate’s founder dismissed the company’s operations director after the latter raised alarms about the safety of the ill-fated Titan sub.

The audio clip was obtained by Netflix and has been used in its documentary Titan: The OceanGate Disaster.

OceanGate Titan submersible underwater.
The vessel imploded during a June 2023 expedition that initially prompted a major rescue operationCredit: BBC
Stockton Rush sitting on the Titan submersible.
Stockton Rush would go on to be one of the victims of the Titan disasterCredit: BBC
Man speaking about the Titan submersible.
Lochridge had branded the Titan submersible as being ‘unsafe’Credit: Netflix
Debris from the Titan submersible being unloaded from a ship.
Lochridge would go on to inform the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of Titan’s safety issues after he was firedCredit: AP
Illustration of OceanGate's Titan submersible, its specifications, and construction details.

American businessman Stockton Rush, who would go on to be one of the victims of the Titan disaster, can be heard David Lochridge in the clip.

Lochridge had raised concerns around the safety of the submersible ahead of its doomed voyage.

Rush tells him: “I don’t want anybody in this company who is uncomfortable with what we are doing. 

“We’re doing weird s*** here. I’m definitely out of the mold, I am doing things that are completely non-standard.

“I’m sure the industry thinks I’m a f****** idiot.

“That’s fine, they’ve been doing that for years. And I’m going to continue on the way I am doing.”

A woman can be heard saying: “We need David on this crew, in my opinion we need him here.”

Lochridge says Rush’s remarks left him “a tad let down” and “pretty gutted”. 

 “This is the first time on paper I’ve ever put any health and safety concerns,” he adds.

“You know every expedition we have had, we’ve had issues.”

‘What’s that bang?’ Chilling moment sound of doomed Titan sub imploding heard from support ship

Rush concedes the point, and Lochridge asks him: “Do you now want to let me go?”

But Rush bluntly replies: “I don’t see we have a choice.”

Rush would later die on board the Titan alongside Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.  

The vessel imploded during a June 2023 expedition that initially prompted a major rescue operation.

But the discovery of a piece debris in the North Atlantic dashed any hopes of a successful rescue mission.

Illustration of sub safety blunders: carbon fiber construction, safety lawsuit, controller steering, lack of distress beacon, lack of regulation, and accounts from ex-passengers.
Underwater shot of the Titan submersible.
Despite warnings from experts and former OceanGate staff, Titan continued to make divesCredit: BBC
Remains of the Titan submersible on the Atlantic Ocean floor.
Remains of the Titan submersibleCredit: AP
Stockton Rush wearing a life jacket and hard hat.
Stockton Rush wearing life jacket and hard hatCredit: BBC

Speaking to filmmakers, Lochridge said: “To me it was just sheer arrogance.

“I didn’t know what to say, but I was blown away that at this point they were willing to play Russian roulette.”

Lochridge was fired back in 2018 after he had worked at the firm for three years.

He would go on to inform the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of Titan’s safety issues after he was fired.

He reportedly got a settlement and release agreement from OceanGate’s lawyers after flagging these concerns with OSHA.

It wasn’t first time concerns had been raised about Rush’s approach to safety.

Karl Stanley, a veteran submersible expert and longtime friend of Rush, shared with author Matthew Gavin Frank: “Rush’s ego was so immense, he was prepared to risk lives, including his own, to be a crucial figure in this narrative.

“He wanted to go [die] at the wreck [of the Titanic].

“The more renowned the incident, the better. He didn’t just cause the deaths of four wealthy individuals and earn a significant sum from it — they have now become a part of the Titanic legend.”

How the Titan tragedy unfolded

By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)

FIVE men plunged beneath the surface of the North Atlantic in a homemade sub in a bid to explore the Titanic wreckage.

Four passengers paid £195,000 each to go on the sub, with the fifth member of the trip being a crew member.

But what was supposed to be a short trip spiralled into days of agony as the doomed Titan vanished without a trace on June 18, 2023.

The daring mission had been months in the making – and almost didn’t happen at the hands of harsh weather conditions in Newfoundland, Canada.

In a now chilling Facebook post, passenger Hamish Harding wrote: “Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023.

“A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow.”

It would be his final Facebook post.

The following morning, he and four others – led by Stockton Rush – began the 12,5000ft descent towards the bottom of the Atlantic.

But as it made its way down into the depths, the vessel lost all contact with its mother ship on the surface, the Polar Prince.

It sparked a frantic four-day search for signs of life, with the hunt gripping the entire world.

There was hope that by some miracle, the crew was alive and desperately waiting to be saved.

But that sparked fears rescue teams faced a race against time as the passengers only had a 96-hour oxygen supply when they set out, which would be quickly dwindling.

Then, when audio of banging sounds was detected under the water, it inspired hope that the victims were trapped and signalling to be rescued.

It heartbreakingly turned out that the banging noises were likely either ocean noises or from other search ships, the US Navy determined.

Countries around the world deployed their resources to aid the search, and within days the Odysseus remote-operated vehicle (ROV) was sent down to where the ghostly wreck of the Titanic sits.

The plan was for the ROV to hook onto the sub and bring it up 10,000ft, where it would meet another ROV before heading to the surface.

But any hopes of a phenomenal rescue were dashed when Odysseus came across a piece of debris from the sub around 1,600ft from the Titanic.

The rescue mission tragically turned into a salvage task, and the heartbroken families of those on board were told the devastating news.

It was confirmed by the US Coast Guard that the sub had suffered a “catastrophic implosion”.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Ukraine, Denmark ink landmark deal to produce weapons in Europe

Ukraine and Denmark Sign Historic Agreement to Manufacture Weapons in Europe

Kyiv struck a landmark deal with Denmark Friday that paves the way…
Mexico President Sheinbaum hopes deported boxer Chávez Jr. will serve time in Mexico

Mexican President Sheinbaum Wishes for Deported Boxer Chávez Jr. to Face Justice in Mexico

Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico stated on Friday that…
Indianapolis street scene with police cars and crime scene tape after a mass shooting.

Two Dead and Multiple Injured in Indianapolis Mass Shooting Amid Large Teen Gathering

TWO people have died and several are injured after a mass shooting…
Even before Glastonbury Festival hate chants, UK Jews warned of alarming rise in antisemitism

UK Jews Highlight Growing Antisemitism Before Glastonbury Festival Controversy

Jewish leaders in the UK were outraged this weekend following antisemitic chants…
Can We Get Rid of the Disgraceful American Federation of Teachers Yet?

Randi Weingarten’s July 4th Tweet Drew Laughter – But Not in the Way She Intended

Many people were acknowledging Independence Day on Friday.  A post by Randi…
Dalai Lama says he hopes to live beyond 130 years

Dalai Lama Expresses Hopes of Living Past 130 Years

The aged Dalai Lama expressed his desire to live beyond 130 years…
Girl clinging to a tree in floodwaters.

22-Year-Old Woman Rescued After Being Carried 20 Miles by Texas Floods; 25 Camp Children Still Missing

A YOUNG woman was miraculously rescued after being swept 20 miles downriver…
Jason Kelce slammed for 'tone deaf' Fourth of July post about setting aside differences: 'Privilege is showing'

Jason Kelce Criticized for ‘Insensitive’ Independence Day Post on Setting Aside Differences: ‘Shows Privilege’

Jason Kelce encountered criticism on social media following his remarks urging people…
Bikes fill Neptune Beach's First Street for Fourth of July tradition

Neptune Beach’s First Street Fills with Bikes for July 4th Celebration

Neptune Beach Police shut down First Street to cars to accommodate the…
Donald Trump speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump Lashes Out: Putin Wants to Continue Killing in Ukraine, Claims He’s ‘Very Unhappy’ After Hour-Long Call with Vladimir

Donald Trump sounded a grim alarm over Putin’s intentions to “continue the…
South Philly shooting today: At least 8 wounded in mass shooting inside 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge in Philadelphia, PA

8 Injured in Mass Shooting at South Philly’s 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge Today

PHILADELPHIA — Eight people were wounded in a mass shooting early Saturday…
Tropical Storm Chantal forecast to bring heavy rain to the Carolinas

Chantal Set to Deliver Heavy Rainfall to the Carolinas

Tropical Storm Chantal has developed off the southeast coast of the U.S.,…