Titan submarine implosion hearing: Key employee who called submarine ‘unsafe’ testifies
Lochridge described an incident on the Andrea Doria, in which he was to take four paying customers to the wreck of the ocean liner that sank in 1956.
He said he had to spread out over several days and keep his distance from the deteriorating wreckage while aboard one of the OceanGate submarines.
Lochridge said: ‘Unfortunately the CEO [Stockton Rush] decided he wanted to remove it, I protested. He told me to stay away, I protested again.
‘I was a little bit restrained at that point, “remember I’m the CEO, you’re just an employee,” he said. Eventually I convinced him to let me dive with him.’
According to Lochridge, Rush took the helm of the submarine, which was controlled by a Playstation controller.
Although the plan was to stretch the landing over several days, Lochridge said Rush said, “Don’t tell me what to do” and headed straight for the wreckage.
Lochridge added: ‘It hit the ground with great force, straight down – visibility was completely gone.
“We could see metal plates, we could clearly see the starboard side of the bow of the Andrea Doria. It was an absolute mess.”
According to Lochridge, Rush continued to argue with him in the submarine, despite Rush offering to help him get out – with two paying clients on board.
The CEO then went full speed into the port side of the ship, causing it to tear, sending him into a panic, Lochridge said.
After one of the customers yelled at the CEO to hand over the controls, Rush threw the controller at the side of Lochridge’s head, breaking it.
Lochridge managed to get the submarine away from the wreck and back to the surface within 15 minutes.
According to Lochridge, this incident was the reason the CEO became embarrassed and was gradually phased out of OceanGate’s programs.
OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush is seen here on May 27, 2023
