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Renata Rojas, a former mission specialist for OceanGate, broke down in tears during her testimony before the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation in North Charleston, South Carolina. The investigation was centered on the catastrophic June 2023 implosion of the Titan submarine, which claimed the lives of Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate, and four other passengers. After becoming overwhelmed by the panel's direct questions regarding the disastrous dive, Rojas needed time to collect himself.
Risks Acknowledged
Rojas stressed throughout her testimony that the Titan mission was “never sold as a Disney ride.” She explained that the trip had inherent hazards and that participants would need to adjust to unanticipated events. On launch day, Rojas described her position and said the crew was aware of the risks involved with the experimental submersible, which was mostly controlled by a commercial gaming controller.
Last Moments Before Launch
Rojas’s feelings grew stronger as she related when she had last seen Rush and the other passengers. She remembered seeing five people who were really thrilled about their journey. Rojas said, “The weather was great,” adding that she hadn’t seen any odd indicators prior to the submersible’s deployment from the support ship.
Around 4:30 p.m. on June 18, 2023, when the Titan did not return as planned, Rojas clarified that the surface team waited before informing the Coast Guard. "Usually they are allowed at least an hour [of delay]," she said, indicating that there were no immediate concerns until later in the evening.
Background and Experience
Rojas described herself as an accomplished diver who was lured to OceanGate by her lifelong desire to see the Titanic disaster. She had been on board for two previous test dives, but she did not take part in the most recent Titan mission. She expressed assurance that she was aware of the hazards by saying, “I never felt unsafe by the operation.”
According to Rojas, the Titan submarine was equipped with 96 hours of life support. "You are in a very remote area, trying to do something very few people can do," she explained, underscoring the inherent dangers of such expeditions.
The Aftermath
Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic specialist Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman were all killed when the Titan submarine imploded. After nearly five days of intensive searching, submersible debris was found on the ocean floor close to the Titanic wreck on June 22, 2023.
Former OceanGate employees started testifying about their worries about the organization and its CEO in the days that followed the tragedy. Unsettling photos of the wrecked ship emerged, shedding more light on the terrible destiny of the Titan and its occupants.