- Cameraman Brian Weed underwent a test dive on the ill-fated OceanGate submersible in May 2021.
- Weed reported that CEO Stockton Rush became “flustered” when both communication and propulsion systems failed.
- According to Weed, Rush attempted to lighten the situation by joking and trying to reboot the vessel’s system.
A documentary cameraman who conducted a test dive in the Titan submersible revealed that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush reacted with discomfort and attempted to justify the situation when the propulsion system of the vessel failed and communication was lost during a trial run, as reported by the Associated Press.
Brian Weed, a camera operator for the Discovery Channel series “Expedition Unknown“, shared that the communication systems of the submersible went offline and the propulsion system failed during a test dive in May 2021. According to Weed, this occurred at relatively shallow depths of around 100 feet.
“You could tell that he was flustered and not really happy with the performance,” Weed commented on Rush’s reaction. “But he was trying to make light of it, trying to make excuses.”
Weed added that Rush attempted to reboot the submersible’s system and troubleshoot problems using the vessel’s touch screens.
Weed and his team were working on a documentary project featuring the OceanGate submersible. However, due to concerns about the safety of the submersible’s carbon-fiber hull and other factors, they decided not to proceed with a full dive in the Titan.
Following the test dive, Weed’s production company enlisted the help of an unnamed consultant from the US Navy to assess the submersible. The consultant expressed concerns about the carbon-fiber hull of the Titan, stating that it would gradually lose effectiveness with repeated deep dives.
“I felt like every time the vessel goes down, it’s going to get weaker and weaker,” Weed remarked to the AP. “And that’s a little bit like playing Russian roulette.”
Josh Gates, the host of “Expedition Unknown,” tweeted on June 21 that he declined the opportunity to film aboard the OceanGate submersible due to safety concerns.
“We had issues with thruster control,” Gates explained to “The Today Show” on June 22. “We had issues with the computers aboard, we had issues with comms. I just felt as though the sub needed more time, and it needed more testing, frankly.”
All five passengers on the Titan, including Rush, tragically perished when the submersible collapsed during a dive to the Titanic shipwreck on June 18.
Insider’s request for comment from OceanGate outside regular business hours has not yet received a response from the company’s representatives.
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