In 2016, OceanGate CEO accidentally crashed a submersible into a shipwreck and later threw a controller at the crew, according to an ex-employee.
A previous mission involving CEO Stockton Rush was described as tense by David Lochridge, the former OceanGate operations director.
On Tuesday, David Lochridge, the former OceanGate operations director who deemed the Titan submersible unsafe before its final, fatal trip, disclosed to U.S. Coast Guard investigators about a prior mission where he had a disagreement with CEO Stockton Rush that resulted in an unfavorable outcome.
Despite being the only qualified submersible pilot at OceanGate, Lochridge, responsible for crew safety and pilot training, recalled that Rush insisted on piloting a 2016 voyage to the Andrea Doria shipwreck using the Cyclops 1 vessel.
He was removed from his position after he revealed that Cyclops 1 had numerous system failures and advised Rush not to operate a sub.
Despite Lochridge's warning, Rush took three people in a submersible to the wreck site of the Andrea Doria and wrecked the vessel. Lochridge said Rush refused to turn over the controls until a client aboard shouted at him, and then he threw the controller, described as a PlayStation controller, at his head.
During the hearing, Lochridge raised his concerns about the Titan submersible, which resulted in the death of Rush and four others when the submersible collapsed during a trip to the Titanic wreck.
He mentioned a 2018 report that highlighted safety concerns regarding OceanGate's operations. He stated that, given the safety issues he observed, "there was no way I could approve of this."
He stated that he had no confidence at all in the construction of the Titan.
Lochridge stated unequivocally that he would never enter that thing, as he appeared before the Coast Guard commission investigating the cause of the Titan's implosion on its way to the Titanic wreckage last year, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals on board.
The Washington-based company sued Lochridge for disclosing confidential information about manned tests of the submersible, which he refused to greenlight due to safety concerns.
OceanGate fired Lochridge for expressing his concerns about the ship.
Lochridge's counterclaim asserts that he utilized an inspection report that pointed out several safety issues and provided suggestions for corrective action and recommendations.
On Monday, Bonnie Carl, OceanGate's ex-finance and HR director, stated that Lochridge described the Titan as "unsafe."
"Lochridge stated that OceanGate's primary objective was to generate profits, and the passengers who paid were affluent individuals."
He remarked that there was minimal scientific content.
Lochridge, a seasoned engineer and submersible pilot, joined the company in the mid-2010s. At a recent hearing, he revealed that he quickly felt he was being used as a "show pony" to lend the company scientific credibility. He stated that he felt the company was selling him as part of the project "for people to come up and pay money," which did not sit well with him.
Since last year's implosion, OceanGate, a Washington-based company, has suspended its operations and has no full-time employees at present. However, the company is represented by an attorney during the hearing, as stated in a statement to the Associated Press. OceanGate has been fully cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since they began.
The accident sparked a global discussion about the future of private undersea exploration, with Lochridge's testimony coming a day after other witnesses described a troubled company eager to launch its unconventional craft.
Wendy Rush, the widow of Rush, is not expected to testify at the hearing. When asked about her absence by the Associated Press, Coast Guard spokesperson Melissa Leake stated that the Coast Guard does not comment on the reasons for not calling specific individuals to a particular hearing during ongoing investigations. She added that it is common for a Marine Board of Investigation to "hold multiple hearing sessions or conduct additional witness depositions for complex cases."
This report was contributed to by Greg Wehner, Bradford Betz, Michael Ruiz of Planet Chronicle, and the Associated Press.
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