'What was that bang?' Footage shows moment Titan submersible imploded

New video captures the moment the Titan sub imploded nearly 3,800 meters below sea level, and two new documentaries explore what went wrong. — Image credit: Eyepress via Reuters

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

New video surfaces

A recently released Department of Defense video captures the faint sound of the Titan sub imploding, as heard from a nearby support vessel — making it the most recent footage released.

Two new documentaries

Discovery and Netflix are airing separate documentaries about the Titan tragedy. Discovery’s film features interviews and new footage, while Netflix explores Stockton Rush’s ambitious journey to revolutionize deep-sea travel.

Safety concerns reignited

Public hearings revealed OceanGate allegedly ignored warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard. The new documentaries highlight these red flags and raise questions about the future of extreme tourism.

Full story

A chilling new video captures the sound of the Titan submersible’s implosion. The footage arrives as two documentaries offer deeper looks into the 2023 tragedy that shocked the world.

Video clip captures moment of implosion

Nearly two years after the Titan submersible imploded on its way to the Titanic wreck, new footage has emerged. The June 18, 2023, implosion occurred approximately 3,800 meters — or 12,500 feet — below sea level, killing all five passengers on board.

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was among the victims. The dive was meant to mark a breakthrough in private deep-sea tourism.

Following the tragedy, the U.S. Marine Board of Investigation held public hearings in September 2023. Testimony included statements from a former OceanGate employee, who alleged that Rush had brushed off safety warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard, according to the Associated Press.

New documentary includes unreleased video

The new clip comes from a Department of Defense video that is circulating online. It features Wendy Rush — wife of Stockton Rush — on the support vessel as the faint sound of the implosion is heard.

In the video, she is heard asking, “What was that bang?” The moment aligns with the expected time of the vessel’s collapse.

Discovery to air free special

The clip serves as a teaser for “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster,” a two-hour documentary airing Wednesday night, May 28, on Discovery. The Warner Bros. Discovery film features interviews with deep-sea explorers, safety technicians, and friends of the Rush family.

Per the media release, it also “delves into the insufficient protocols and warning signs that were detected on the submersible– and ultimately ignored.”

Netflix doc offers different perspective

Netflix is also releasing its own take on the story. “The Titan Sub Disaster: Lost at Sea” premieres June 11, focusing on Stockton Rush’s ambitions and the years leading up to the fatal dive.

Both specials aim to uncover the human decisions and technical failures that led to one of the most publicized underwater disasters in recent memory.

Jake Larsen (Video Editor) and Drew Pittock (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: Department of Defense, film, movies, Netflix, Titan Submarine, Warner Bros. Discovery

[KENNEDY FELTON]

THE MYSTERY OF THE TITAN SUBMERSIBLE TRAGEDY JUST GOT A NEW CHAPTER. A CHILLING NEW VIDEO CAPTURES THE MOMENT THE SOUND OF THE IMPLOSION REACHED THE SURFACE—DROPPING JUST AS A FREE DOCUMENTARY IS GIVING VIEWERS AN EVEN DEEPER LOOK INTO THE DISASTER THAT SHOOK THE WORLD.

IT’S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE THE TITAN SUBMERSIBLE IMPLODED ON ITS WAY TO THE TITANIC WRECK SITE. OCEANGATE C-E-O STOCKTON RUSH WAS ON BOARD WITH FOUR OTHER PASSENGERS IN WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE A GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT FOR PRIVATE DEEP-SEA TRAVEL.

THE MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER—INCLUDING TESTIMONY FROM A FORMER OCEANGATE EMPLOYEE WHO CLAIMED RUSH DISMISSED SAFETY WARNINGS FROM THE U.S. COAST GUARD, ACCORDING TO REPORTS.

NOW, NEW VIDEO IS MAKING ROUNDS—SHOWING THE MOMENT WENDY RUSH, THE WIFE OF STOCKTON RUSH, HEARD A FAINT BANG BELIEVED TO BE THE SOUND OF THE IMPLOSION. THE CLIP WAS OBTAINED BY OFFICIAL SOURCES AND WAS USED TO TEASE A TWO-HOUR SPECIAL CALLED IMPLOSION: THE TITANIC SUB DISASTER PREMIERING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

(BANG) “WHAT WAS THAT BANG?”

THE DOCUMENTARY—PRODUCED BY WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY—INCLUDES INTERVIEWS WITH DEEP-SEA EXPLORERS, TECHNICIANS, AND FRIENDS OF THE RUSH FAMILY. IT LOOKS “into the insufficient protocols and warning signs that were detected on the submersible—and ultimately ignored.”

NETFLIX IS ALSO DIVING INTO THE TRAGEDY, RELEASING THE TITAN SUB DISASTER: LOST AT SEA ON JUNE 11TH. THAT DOCUMENTARY TAKES A DIFFERENT ANGLE, FOCUSING ON THE YEARS LEADING UP TO THE VOYAGE AND STOCKTON RUSH’S AMBITION TO REVOLUTIONIZE UNDERWATER TRAVEL.

Why this story matters

Newly released video and documentary coverage of the Titan submersible disaster sheds light on the human decisions and technical failures leading to the fatal implosion, raising ongoing questions about safety oversight in emerging deep-sea tourism and technology ventures.

Safety and oversight

The coverage highlights concerns regarding the effectiveness of safety protocols and regulatory oversight in private maritime exploration, as noted by testimony and documentary content referencing warnings and ignored risks.

Human decision-making

The documentaries and new footage focus on the roles and choices of individuals, such as Stockton Rush and others involved, emphasizing how leadership and ambition can influence the outcomes of high-risk ventures.

Media and public interest

The global attention to the Titan tragedy, including new documentaries and video evidence, underscores the enduring public fascination and debate over high-profile disasters and their causes.

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Community reaction

Local communities, maritime experts, and the broader public expressed shock and sorrow at the tragedy. There is widespread discussion about the risks of deep-sea tourism and outrage or calls for stricter safety standards. Some families of the deceased have filed lawsuits, and there is a sense of mourning intertwined with debate over accountability and exploration ethics.

Context corner

Deep-sea exploration vehicles like the Titan are not subject to the same rigorous safety certification as military submarines. Historically, the Titanic itself has attracted numerous expeditions, but most have involved heavily regulated vessels. The lure of adventure and technological innovation has sometimes outpaced regulatory oversight in new fields such as commercial deep-sea tourism.

Global impact

The incident sparked global debate on the safety and regulation of private ocean exploration, influencing how countries and companies approach deep-sea tourism. International agencies joined the search and investigation, highlighting the interconnectedness of maritime safety. The tragedy also led to discussions about the commercialization and ethics of extreme tourism worldwide.