A wrongful death lawsuit seeking over $50 million has been filed by the family of a French explorer who tragically died in a submersible implosion. The incident occurred during a voyage to the Titanic wreck site in the North Atlantic in June 2023. The explorer, known as 'Mr. Titanic,' was among five individuals who lost their lives in the implosion of the Titan submersible, owned by OceanGate, a company based in Washington state.
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence on the part of OceanGate, stating that crucial information about the submersible's flaws and shortcomings was not disclosed to the crew, including the experienced explorer who had participated in numerous dives to the Titanic site. The lawsuit further claims that the submersible had a 'troubled history' and that key facts about its durability were concealed.
Following the tragic incident, concerns were raised about the unconventional design of the Titan and the lack of independent checks. The U.S. Coast Guard initiated an investigation, with a public hearing scheduled for September to delve into the circumstances surrounding the implosion.
The lawsuit aims to uncover the details of the incident and hold those responsible accountable for the deaths of the crew members. It points to the 'persistent carelessness, recklessness, and negligence' of OceanGate and its operators as the cause of the implosion.
Despite the tragedy, the salvage rights to the Titanic are being pursued by RMS Titanic Inc., which recently launched its first expedition to the wreckage site since 2010. The French explorer, who was the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, had a long history of underwater exploration and was described as a seasoned veteran who would not have participated in the ill-fated expedition if transparency had been maintained.
The lawsuit emphasizes that while the explorer may have died doing what he loved, his death, along with the other crew members, was wrongful and could have been prevented with proper care and transparency.
