The missing Titan submersible saga has taken over the internet throughout the past week as it recently reached a tragic conclusion. The US Coast Guard confirmed that the debris found near the Titanic was of the missing submersible, implying that the five passengers on board had died. As a result, questions arise regarding potential criminal charges against OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned the vessel. Let’s take a look at the legal implications surrounding the incident and the possible charges OceanGate may face.
Potential criminal charges against OceanGate
Following the news of the Titan submersible’s implosion, the question remains: is OceanGate criminally liable for the deaths of the submarine’s passengers, including their CEO, Stockton Rush?
It’s important to note that the participants in the deep-ocean dives signed waivers acknowledging the risks involved. However, legal experts believe that such waivers may not hold up against acts of gross negligence.
https://twitter.com/OceanGateExped/status/1671976846827876352?s=20
Firstly, the authorities will investigate whether the company followed industry safety standards and protocols. If the company knew about significant risks beforehand but failed to mitigate them, then the possibility of criminal charges against OceanGate increases.
Potential criminal charges include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and a deliberate disregard for human life.
Legal implications after the missing submersible
According to legal experts, a civil lawsuit against OceanGate Expeditions is almost a certainty. Through this, the victims’ families can seek compensation for their loss and hold OceanGate accountable for negligence.
The OceanGate CEO is now on the list of inventors killed by their own invention, joining Thomas Andrews, Jr. the architect of the Titanic pic.twitter.com/mECvoDa04F
— depths of wikipedia! (@depthsofwiki) June 23, 2023
While civil charges are likely, the grounds for criminal charges are entirely different. They would require stronger proof against the company and its actions. The fact that the five deceased people are all high-profile individuals, the implications may vary slightly.
If it goes to trial, the jury might lean in favor of OceanGate as their CEO lost his life in the submersible, which implies they tried their best. The outcome of this case will set an example for future cases of accountability when it comes to such high-risk exploratory ventures.
What happened to the Titan submersible?
The five passengers on the fatal exploratory journey were British billionaire Hamish Harding, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, ‘Mr.Titanic’ and underwater wreck expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
The disastrous saga began on June 18 when the privately-owned Titan submersible went missing after it set out on a mission to explore the famed Titanic’s wreckage at the bottom of the ocean.
🚨 Breaking News
All five people onboard on #Submersible are all very sadly died, #OceanGate confirms. This video shows how the accident happened with the submarine. 💔#Titanic #Titan pic.twitter.com/W82X9OawuD— WOLF™️ (@thepakwolf) June 22, 2023
Social media users keenly followed the incident as they tracked the remaining oxygen in the submersible and how long it would last to keep them alive. However, the Coast Guard believes that the vessel imploded and the passengers died instantaneously.
Did OceanGate and passengers know about the risks?
A previous participant has caused quite an uproar as he seems to suggest that OceanGate and the passengers were aware of the risks involved in exploring the Titanic wreckage.
The participant is Mike Reiss, a writer, and producer for The Simpsons. When he visited the Titanic wreck with OceanGate last year, he claimed to have known there was a possibility of not returning.
Reiss emphasized that the expedition was not a vacation but an exploration where participants knowingly put their lives at risk. His perspective suggests that the passengers of the Titan were well aware of the potential consequences.
You can share questions about OceanGate’s potential criminal charges for missing submersible. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!
