OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was onboard the doomed Titan submersible that imploded while on a trip to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, has been accused of having embarked on a "predatory hunt" for wealthy passengers to take on the voyage.
Industry professional Patrick Lahey has commented that Stockton was able to convince Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet to join him on the trip, despite the clear warning signs.
Patrick says, "He could even convince someone who knew and understood the risks … it was really quite predatory."
He continued, "I told him in very candid terms why he shouldn’t be out there. He understood. I believe [Paul-Henri] thought in some way that by being out there, he could help these guys avoid a tragedy, but instead he ended up in the middle of one."
He continued, "I told PH that going out there in some way sanctioned this operation. I said: ‘You’re becoming an ambassador for this thing; people look at you and your record and the life you lead and things you’ve done, which are extraordinary, and in some ways you are legitimizing what [OceanGate] are doing.'"
More from LittleThings: Investor Who Almost Went On Doomed Sub Trip Reveals CEO Dismissed His Safety Concerns
Patrick, who is president of Triton Submarines, had warned OceanGate of the dangers of its submersible and its trips. After learning of the fate of the passengers and crew on the Titan, he "sat here with my wife and daughter and we just wept and wept."
