Former OceanGate passenger, Arthur Loibl, has revealed shocking details about his dive to see the Titanic wreckage.
In a recent media interview, Loibl described the experience as a “suicide mission” due to the unsafe conditions onboard the submersible.
The search for the missing submersible has recently concluded, adding more significance to Loibl’s revelations.
A Risky Expedition: Who is Arthur Loibl?
Loibl, a German entrepreneur, embarked on the expedition in August 2021, accompanied by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and French diver Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
The ill-fated vessel, Titan, carried both Rush and Nargeolet, along with three others.
Expressing his concern over the recent search and rescue efforts, Loibl said, “I feel bad, I’m nervous, I have a sinking feeling in my stomach. I was incredibly lucky back then.”
The Titan vanished approximately 370 miles off the coast of St John’s, Newfoundland in Canada, mere hours after beginning its 12,500 ft dive.
The submersible was designed to sustain five passengers for 96 hours, making the rescue mission a race against time.
Unsafe Conditions: Claustrophobia and Strained Nerves
Loibl, known for undertaking daring expeditions, including trips to the North and South Pole, labeled his 2021 expedition, filled with safety warnings, as “the most extreme.”
His interest in exploring the Titanic wreckage began in 2016 during a trip to the South Pole when a Russian company offered a dive for half a million dollars.
However, he seized the opportunity when OceanGate announced their expedition for $110,000 in 2018.
It took the company two years to organize a successful voyage.
Describing the conditions inside the submersible, Loibl explained that passengers needed “strong nerves” and had to endure sitting cross-legged for ten hours.
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The retired businessman revealed that the submersible consisted of a few-meter-long metal tube with a metal sheet for a floor.
The cramped space meant passengers couldn’t stand or kneel, and everyone sat in close proximity to each other.
Claustrophobia was not an option.
Troubling Details Unveiled: Failed Submersibles and Delays
Delving into further distressing details, Loibl shared that the first OceanGate submersible was non-functional, and another dive was abandoned at 1,600 meters.
Eventually, Loibl joined the fifth mission, which experienced a five-hour delay due to electrical problems—a possible factor behind the recent tragedy involving the Titan.
During Loibl’s 10.5-hour voyage, the lights were turned off during ascent and descent to conserve energy, with only a fluorescent glow stick providing illumination.
These revelations have shed light on OceanGate’s disregard for safety warnings, as uncovered documents suggest.
Legal Battles and Counterclaims: Former Director Raises Concerns
A 2018 report from OceanGate’s former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, emphasized the need for more testing to ensure passenger safety at extreme depths.
In response to Lochridge’s report, the company filed a lawsuit against him for breaching their agreement.
However, Lochridge countered, claiming he was wrongfully terminated for raising safety concerns.
In a heartbreaking announcement, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the Titan imploded near the Titanic wreckage, resulting in the tragic deaths of all five passengers.
With Arthur Loibl’s interview exposing the grim reality of the Titanic submersible mission, the focus is now on the safety conditions and negligence that contributed to this devastating incident.
