Father and son decline seats on the Titan submersible
Investor Jay Bloom and his son Sean decided not to go on the Titan submersible, which later met with a catastrophic implosion, due to safety concerns. They expressed worry about the submersible’s ability to withstand the extreme conditions at the depths of the ocean.
Red flags raised about the submersible
Sean, 20, saw several red flags regarding the submersible’s suitability for the planned voyage. He mentioned that it was designed to accommodate only five people and doubted its capability to safely reach the depths of the ocean. After watching a video of Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush showcasing the submersible, Sean shared his concerns with his father.
Titan submersible’s purpose and tragic outcome
The Titan submersible allowed wealthy individuals to view the wreckage of the Titanic, located approximately 12,500 feet below sea level. Unfortunately, it suffered a catastrophic implosion during the dive, resulting in the deaths of all five passengers on board. Among the victims were Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, who took the seats that Jay and Sean had declined.
Jay Bloom’s apprehension and communication with Rush
Jay Bloom described the news of the submersible’s implosion as “very surreal.” He shared text message exchanges with Stockton Rush, who had offered them seats on the submersible for the May expedition. Jay mentioned his concerns about Rush’s unconventional arrival in Las Vegas on a two-seater experimental plane to pitch the idea. He emphasized that he, as a pilot, would not risk flying in an experimental aircraft.
Brushed-off concerns and ongoing investigations
Both Jay and Sean claimed that Rush dismissed their questions and concerns about the submersible during the decision-making process. Authorities are currently conducting investigations to better understand the cause of the incident. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the US Coast Guard have announced separate probes into the implosion, with hopes of finding debris that could shed light on the fatal incident.
Lingering regret
Jay expressed his haunting regret over their decision not to go on the Titan submersible. He empathized with the father and son who lost their lives, imagining that it could have been him and his own son in that situation.
