SUMMARY
- Former OceanGate employee David Lochridge had expressed concerns about CEO Stockton Rush and the Titan submersible's safety years prior to its fatal implosion.
- Despite warnings about potential risks, the Titan wasn't independently certified, and its carbon-fibre hull was deemed inadequate for deep-sea explorations.
- The tragic implosion of Titan on June 18 led to the loss of five lives, highlighting the dire consequences of ignored safety concerns in marine explorations.
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/9596329/538703_222426.png)
A haunting email communication that was sent by David Lochridge, a former staff member at OceanGate Expeditions, has recently emerged, uncovering the fact that the executive harbored serious concerns about the CEO's attitude and the safety measures of the company's submarine, Titan. This same Titan submersible subsequently met a tragic fate, imploding during a North Atlantic dive.
Lochridge, who served OceanGate both as an independent contractor and an employee between 2015 and 2018, shared his fears about Titan with his ex-colleague, Rob McCallum. His email to McCallum, filled with concern, stated, "I don't want to be seen as a Tattle tale but I'm so worried he [CEO Stockton Rush] kills himself and others in the quest to boost his ego." This chilling message highlighted the existing apprehensions about the CEO's leadership and the overall safety of the Titan submersible.
After making noise about the potential safety issues related to Titan, Lochridge found himself entangled in legal disputes with OceanGate over claims of wrongful termination. McCallum, the recipient of Lochridge's worrisome email, was also vocal about his unease over the Titan's safety, having previously cautioned CEO Rush in 2018 about the possible risks that he perceived could threaten not only Rush but also the company's clientele.
OceanGate's Titan submersible, sadly, wasn't independently certified. The carbon-fibre hull of the sub, deemed experimental, was ill-equipped for the rigors of deep-sea exploration, and leakage was reported from the seams of its ballast bags. Despite the warnings, these concerns were dismissed as “baseless cries” by Rush.
The tragic end to this tale occurred on June 18th. Roughly an hour and forty-five minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreckage, the Titan lost contact with its mother ship. The 23,000-pound craft, constructed of carbon fiber and titanium, suffered a devastating implosion which led to the demise of the five men on board. An investigation into the circumstances of their deaths and the exact causes for the implosion is currently underway.
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