Wed Sep 18 08:51:47 UTC 2024: ## OceanGate CEO’s Previous Submersible Crash Revealed in Coast Guard Hearing

**Testimony from a former OceanGate employee reveals a previous incident where the company’s CEO, Stockton Rush, crashed a submersible into a shipwreck, leading to a tense standoff with passengers.**

David Lochridge, who previously served as OceanGate’s head of marine operations, described the harrowing incident that occurred in 2016 during a dive to the Andrea Doria shipwreck. Rush, despite Lochridge’s strong objections, insisted on piloting the submersible, a precursor to the doomed Titan, known as Cyclops 1.

Lochridge recounted watching in disbelief as Rush recklessly maneuvered the submersible, ignoring warnings to maintain a safe distance from the deteriorating shipwreck. He stated that Rush forcefully landed the vessel, then reversed and collided with the wreckage, jamming the submersible beneath it.

Following the crash, Rush reportedly panicked, questioning the availability of life support and asking about the arrival time of a rescue team. Lochridge, an experienced submersible pilot, attempted to calm Rush down and take control of the vessel, but Rush refused to relinquish the PlayStation controller used to pilot the submersible.

Lochridge described Rush’s resistance, stating that he pushed the controller further away each time Lochridge attempted to take it. As debris from the shipwreck floated in the water nearby, Lochridge expressed his growing concern about the situation.

This incident, previously unknown, has emerged during the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation into the fatal implosion of the Titan submersible in June 2022, which killed Rush and four other passengers. The hearing continues as investigators attempt to understand the events leading up to the tragedy and determine the cause of the implosion.

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