**Whistleblower Exposes Lies Behind Titan Submersible Tragedy**

An industry expert and former Oceangate employee claims that inadequacies in safety measures and equipment ultimately led to the tragic disaster.

When the Titan submersible vanished during its ill-fated dive to the Titanic wreck in June 2023, former Oceangate director David Lochridge expressed deep concerns about the safety of the five individuals on board, including Oceangate's CEO, Stockton Rush. Lochridge, who had previously been dismissed for voicing safety apprehensions, believed the team’s negligence regarding equipment could lead to disaster. Tragically, the sub imploded, resulting in the death of all five passengers.

In a candid interview with the BBC, Lochridge explained, "There is so much that could have been done differently. … People were sold a lie." He highlighted the US Coast Guard's recent report, which identified major safety oversights as critical contributors to the disaster and echoed his sentiments that regulatory oversight from authorities was severely lacking.

Joining Oceangate in 2011, Lochridge’s initial excitement about the company's ambitious plans to develop a revolutionary submersible gave way to worry after complaints about construction quality began to surface. While once optimistic, he quickly became alarmed by the company's decision to change the Titan's design and build structure in-house, losing the valuable input from independent experts at the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory.

With over 25 years of maritime experience, Lochridge was charged with ensuring dive safety and leading pilot operations. He quickly shifted from a hopeful participant in the Titan project to a vocal whistleblower expressing serious concerns over the vessel's construction. He warned of structural weaknesses in the composite hull, improper machining of titanium domes, and inadequate designs for operating under extreme pressure.

Following unsuccessful attempts to address his concerns internally, Lochridge took his findings to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an action that ultimately led to his dismissal. Despite relaying urgent safety concerns to OSHA, he alleges that little was done to protect him from retaliation or to advance the investigation. Faced with a lawsuit from Oceangate consisting of serious allegations, he withdrew his complaint after intense pressure from their legal team.

As the timeline unfolded, advancements toward operating the Titan continued amid safety warnings ignored by both Oceangate and regulatory bodies. After the submersible's implosion in June 2023, Lochridge stated that the tragedy could have been prevented had his concerns been taken seriously by the appropriate agencies. The recent Coast Guard report supporting his assertions prompted calls for improvement in oversight and agency communication.

In the wake of the incident, Oceangate has halted all operations and has begun cooperating fully with investigations. The Coast Guard’s Jason Neubauer indicated a resolve to improve oversight processes for whistleblowers moving forward, acknowledging the shortcomings in handling Lochridge's case.