The family of French explorer Paul Henri-Nargeolet has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against OceanGate, the operator of the Titan submersible, following the tragic implosion that claimed his life.
The lawsuit alleges that the crew experienced “terror and mental anguish” before the disaster struck.
Paul Henri-Nargeolet, renowned for his numerous dives to the Titanic wreck, embarked on his final mission on June 18, 2023, along with five other crew members to explore the famous shipwreck. Less than two hours into the voyage, the vessel lost contact, prompting a frantic search-and-rescue mission.
The submersible’s 96-hour oxygen supply added urgency to the efforts, but the mission ended in heartbreak with the confirmation of a catastrophic implosion.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington state court on August 6, accuses OceanGate and its founder, Stockton Rush, of wrongful death, gross negligence, and other counts. It claims that Rush designed, constructed, and operated the submersible in a manner that deviated from industry norms, driven by his desire to be remembered as an innovator like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk.
Rush’s decision to use carbon fiber for the Titan’s hull, instead of the standard titanium, is highlighted in the suit. Carbon fiber, while lighter, degrades under pressure over time. Despite acknowledging the potential for “catastrophic failure,” Rush relied on an acoustic safety system to detect issues.
The suit also reveals that OceanGate’s head of marine operations requested a scan of the carbon fiber hull, which Rush refused, leading to the safety chief’s dismissal.
Warnings from experts and the Marine Technology Society about OceanGate’s experimental approach were ignored. Additionally, the Titan was never certified by DNV, a leading certification body, as Rush believed educating DNV personnel on the submersible’s design would be too difficult.
The lawsuit further states that crew members signed waivers that did not disclose significant risks related to the Titan’s design and materials. Nargeolet, despite his extensive experience, was not fully informed about the vessel’s safety.
When the acoustic safety system alarmed, signaling hull issues, the pilot attempted to abort the mission, but the crew likely faced the terror of knowing they were doomed.
The complaint describes the crew’s awareness of their impending death, with experts suggesting they would have heard the hull cracking as the submersible descended. This awareness, the lawsuit claims, added to their suffering before the implosion.
The implosion killed Nargeolet, Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, UK-based Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Suleman. The U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation into the incident continues, with a hearing scheduled for September.
Tony Buzbee, the family’s lawyer, emphasized the need for answers and accountability: “We are hopeful that through this lawsuit we can get answers for the family as to exactly how this happened, who all were involved, and how those involved could allow this to happen.”
