New ‘critical’ information could be revealed over deaths of five people killed on doomed Titan sub mission in major investigation

New information could be revealed over the deaths of the five people who were killed in the Titan submersible disaster.

OceanGate's expedition was meant to take the five men to the wreck of the Titanic on 18 June, 2023.

However, the vessel lost contact just an hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent around 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland.

The wreckage of the sub was found days later as the passengers were named as OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman.

Following the tragedy, OceanGate confirmed last July that it had 'suspended all exploration and commercial operations'.

The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation announced that a new public hearing regarding the deaths will open in South Carolina, US, today (16 September).

24 witnesses will come forward over the next two weeks, including former executives of OceanGate and technical experts.

An investigation has been launched after five men were killed Titan submersible disaster (PA)

Ahead of the hearing, the chairman of the Titan Marine Board of Investigation, Jason Neubauer, said on Sunday (15 September): "Over the past 15 months, our team has worked continuously, in close co-ordination with multiple federal agencies, international partners and industry experts to uncover the facts surrounding this incident.

"These proceedings are not just a formality.

"They are a critical step in our mission to understand the contributing factors that led to the incident and, more importantly, the actions needed to prevent a similar occurrence.

"We are charged to also detect misconduct or negligence by credentialed mariners, and if there’s any detection of a criminal act, we can make a recommendation to the Department of Justice."

On what they investigating, the United States Coast Guard added: "Following completion of the evidence gathering phase of the investigation, including the public hearings, the Board will carefully evaluate all evidence to determine, as closely as possible the cause of the incident.

The vessel lost contact just an hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent (PA)

"Whether there is evidence that any failure of material (either physical or design) was involved or contributed to the incident, so that proper recommendations for the prevention of the recurrence of similar incidents may be made.

"Whether there is evidence that any act of misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence or wilful violation of the law on the part of any licensed or certificated person contributed to the incident so that appropriate proceedings against the license or certificate of such person may be recommended and taken under 46 U.S.C. 6301 [Investigation of marine casualties].

"Or whether there is evidence that any Coast Guard personnel or any representative or employee of any other government agency, or any other person, caused or contributed to the cause of the incident."

After the hearing, 'the Board will evaluate all evidence and testimony to prepare a final report'.

A timeline of the Titan submersible disaster:

The Titan loses contact with support vessel

The Polar Prince loses contact with the Titan around one hour and 45 minutes into its descent on 18 June. A few hours after the submersible was supposed to resurface, the US Coast Guard received a report of an overdue submersible.

Search operation is launched

The US Coast Guard launch a large-scale operation on 19 June, 2023, when the vessel fails to resurface or make contact almost 24 hours on.

'Banging noises' are detected

Two days on from the Titan's disappearance on 21 June, 2023, sonar crews taking part in the search pick up 'banging noises', giving false hope that the passengers are still alive.

The Titan's oxygen supply 'runs out'

At 1pm E.T on 22 June, 2023, the submersible's 96-hour oxygen supply is predicted to have ran out, cementing fears for the crew onboard.

A 'debris field' is discovered, leading to the realisation of a 'catastrophic implosion'

The US Coast Guard confirms the Titan was destroyed by a ‘catastrophic implosion’ - a result of both enormous water pressure and failed materials - with the loss of all five people aboard.