Expert speaks out about audio from Titan sub disaster that was released months after initial incident

An expert has spoken about the audio from the Titan submersible disaster that was released months after the initial incident.

Former OceanGate contractor Tym Catterson is facing questions at a hearing which is exploring the causes of the Titan sub's implosion.

The hearing, expected to last two weeks, began on Monday (16 September) on behalf of the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation.

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

Five people were killed during OceanGate's expedition which was supposed to take them 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.

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

Catterson was asked yesterday about the audio footage from the sub picked up by the Canadian Air Force coming every 30 minutes, just hours after it went missing.

He said: "If it happens more than once or it happens consistently, it's something that humans are doing."

The former OceanGate employee acknowledged that there were various 'theories flying around from people totally without sleep and very anxious'.

Though he 'wasn't positive about what was going to happen'.

"Clearly, somebody knew what they were doing and I was assuming they were going to know more than I did," he said.

This comes after the crew aboard the vessel had been in communication with staff on board the support vessel, the 'Polar Prince'.

The Polar Prince then repeatedly asked if the Titan could still see the vessel on its display.

The Titan's final response was 'all good'.

Meanwhile, 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.

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

"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."

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.

Remains of the Titan sub found on the sea bed nearby the Titanic (US Coast Guard)

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.