2 days ago
Who died in the OceanGate Titan submersible disaster? A look at the victims
Who died in the OceanGate Titan submersible disaster? A look at the victims OceanGate, in a statement at the time, had described the victims as "true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans."
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Newly released footage captures sound of Titan submersible imploding
Newly released video appeared to capture the sound of the Titan submersible imploding on its way to visit the Titanic wreck in June 2023.
On the second anniversary of the ill-fated Titan submersible, the tragic incident is back in the spotlight, courtesy of a Netflix documentary that takes an in-depth look at the implosion that left five men dead.
"Titan: The OceanGate Disaster" dropped on Netflix on June 11, just seven days before the two-year marker, and it "examines OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, his quest to become the next billionaire innovator and the doomed underwater endeavor that forced the world to reconsider the price of ambition in the depths of the ocean," according to the new feature-length documentary's synopsis.
The Titanic-visiting vehicle imploded two miles below sea level on June 18, 2023, about one hour and 45 minutes into the voyage. Its wreckage was found on the ocean floor about 330 yards off the bow of the Titanic. All five people aboard were killed.
The Coast Guard is still investigating the cause of the implosion and is expected to release a final report. A series of hearings were held in 2024 as part of the investigation, and a lawsuit has been filed by the family of French maritime and Titanic expert, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, claiming all five passengers probably experienced "terror and anguish" in their final moments.
OceanGate, in a statement at the time, had described the victims as "true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans."
As the Netflix documentary premieres, here's what to know about the victims of the submersible.
Stockton Rush
Stockton Rush, 61, was the CEO of OceanGate, which he founded in 2009 and oversaw financial and engineering strategies, according to the company's website, which was taken down in the wake of the fatal implosion, USA TODAY previously reported. Rush was the pilot of the Titan submersible at the time of the disaster.
He was also the co-founder of OceanGate Foundation, a non-profit organization, "which aims to catalyze emerging marine technology to further discoveries in marine science, history, and archaeology," according to the company's website.
Rush, who held degrees from Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley, had an adventurous spirit, per his obituary in the New York Times. He also told Fast Company in 2017 that he "wanted to be the first person on Mars.'
Rush was a member of a prominent family in San Francisco and a descendant of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, according to SFGate.
The outlet reported that he was working as an aerospace engineer for McDonnell Douglas when he married his wife, Wendy, in 1986. His wife is the descendant of retailing magnate Isidor Straus and his wife, Ida, two of the wealthiest people to die aboard the Titanic, according to the New York Times.
Who was Stockton Rush? OceanGate CEO focus of Titan implosion documentary
Hamish Harding
Hamish Harding, a British billionaire explorer who was chairman of Action Aviation, a global sales company in business aviation.
Harding, 58, was a flying enthusiast who had been to space and held three Guinness World Records related to his explorations by plane and into the deep ocean.
Harding's family, in a statement, described him as a dedicated father of two and a 'living legend' who loved to explore and push the boundaries of what was possible. The businessman also went on many adventures with his son, Giles, who at 12 became the youngest person to make a trip to the South Pole.
Harding is survived by his wife, Linda Harding, with whom he had four children, according to The Independent.
Paul-Henry Nargeolet
Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a French maritime and Titanic expert, was director of Underwater Research for E/M Group and RMS Titanic, Inc. He successfully dived in a submersible to the site of the Titanic wreckage 37 times and "supervised the recovery of 5,000 artifacts," according to EMGroup's website, which also says he's "widely considered the leading authority on the wreck site."
A French Navy veteran who served as a submarine pilot, mine-clearing diver and deep-sea diver, Nargeolet is survived by his wife, Anne Sarraz-Bournet; two daughters, a son, a stepson and four grandsons, according to his New York Times obituary. His wife, Michele Marsh, an Emmy Award-winning newscaster in New York, died in 2017 of complications from breast cancer, per the outlet.
Shahzada Dawood
Shahzada Dawood, 48, hailed from one of Pakistan's wealthiest families and served on the board of trustees for the Dawood Foundation, an education nonprofit based in Pakistan, according to the World Economic Forum. He was also on the board of the SETI Institute, a non-profit research organization, as well as serving as vice chairman on the board of Pakistani Engro Corporation.
Dawood is survived by a daughter, Alina, and his wife, Christine.
Suleman Dawood
Shahzada Dawood's son, Suleman Dawood, 19, loved science fiction, solving Rubik's Cubes and playing volleyball, the New York Times reported.
He was a business student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and had planned to join his father in working for Engro after graduating from college, his obituary read, per
'The relationship between Shahzada and Suleman was a joy to behold; they were each other's greatest supporters and cherished a shared passion for adventure and exploration of all the world had to offer them,' the Dawood family said in a statement, per the New York Times.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Isabelle Butera, Javier Zarracina, Janet Loehrke, Grace Hauck, Kayla Jimenez / USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
