Wed Sep 18 03:08:00 UTC 2024: ## OceanGate CEO’s Reckless Behavior Revealed in Testimony About 2016 Submersible Crash
**North Charleston, SC** – New testimony at the US Coast Guard’s investigation into the Titan submersible implosion has revealed a disturbing pattern of reckless behavior by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. David Lochridge, a former marine operations manager for OceanGate, described a harrowing 2016 incident involving a prototype submersible called Cyclops 1, which Rush piloted to the Andrea Doria shipwreck despite Lochridge’s objections.
Lochridge testified that Rush crashed the submersible into the shipwreck, then panicked and refused to let another pilot take over, even as a passenger begged him to do so with tears in her eyes. This incident, previously reported in a Vanity Fair article, paints a picture of a CEO who was willing to disregard safety concerns and put passengers at risk.
Lochridge, an experienced submersible pilot, also described a company culture that prioritized speed and innovation over safety, with Rush often cutting corners and ignoring industry standards. This included allowing inexperienced individuals to pilot submersibles with minimal training and refusing to seek external certification for the Titan, claiming it was too innovative.
Lochridge’s testimony, delivered on Tuesday, has heightened concerns about OceanGate’s practices leading up to the Titan’s fatal implosion in June 2023. He expressed his belief that the company’s disregard for safety protocols made the tragedy inevitable.
This revelation follows a series of reports highlighting OceanGate’s risky practices and Rush’s disregard for safety concerns. The Coast Guard investigation is expected to continue for several more weeks, with further testimony from former employees and industry experts.
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