A video from a 2022 documentary for the BBC has resurfaced featuring showed that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush admitting to not knowing how to operate the controller of the submersible.
The clip captures Rush attempting to navigate the vessel after encountering issues with a misaligned thruster. Since it resurfaced, the footage has gained significant attention and become viral.
According to the BBC documentary "The Travel Show" in 2022, a significant moment captures Stockton Rush, the late OceanGate CEO, as he attempts to troubleshoot an issue with the mothership on the surface.
The pilot, Scott Griffith, had noticed an abnormal spinning motion of the submersible during the launch. In the footage, Scott can be seen shrugging and informing the passengers that 'they checked it and it seemed good'. He speculates that a problem with the thruster may have been responsible for the unexpected rotation of the vessel.
In the captured video, Stockton Rush can be heard expressing his frustration, stating, "When I'm thrusting forwards, one of the thrusters is thrusting backward. Now the only thing I can do right now is a 360,"
Seeking a solution, the CEO proposes the idea of remapping the controller for the submersible, even mentioning contacting a colleague for guidance on "remapping the PS3 controller."
However, to make matters worse, Rush expressed confusion about how to use the controller, confessing, 'Yeah, but I don't remember which is up and down.
Thanks to the suggestion from Rush's colleague, the proposed solution proved effective. Consequently, the Titan was able to proceed with its expedition to the ocean's depths. Passengers witness the legendary wreckage of the Titanic.
On June 18, the Titan submersible carried five passengers including Rush to visit the wreck of the Titanic. Other passengers on board included father and son Shahzada and Suleiman Daoud, British billionaire Hamish Harding and French co-pilot Paul Henri Nargiolet. The submersible is said to have gone missing and exploded catastrophically, resulting in the loss of the lives of all five passengers.
The accident has raised concerns about the safety of diving tourism. At present, OceanGate has ceased all operations after the explosion, and criminal charges are not ruled out.
