The recent documentary Titanic Sub: Lost at Sea has drawn controversy for delving into the story of the Titan submersible, which went missing during an expedition to explore the undersea shipwreck of the Titanic. The documentary aired on Channel 5 in the UK while rescue efforts were still ongoing, and just before it aired, debris from the submersible was found near the site of the Titanic shipwreck. Tragically, all five passengers on board were confirmed dead while the program was on the air.
Many viewers on social media expressed discomfort with the timing of the program, calling it too soon and ghoulish. The program’s producer, ITN, defended the program, saying it would tell a very human story that has captured the nation.
The submersible was operated by OceanGate Expeditions as a tourist vessel, and the passengers included British billionaire Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush, and veteran French diver Paul-Henry Nargeolet. The program explored the rise of extreme tourism and the rescue attempts, but ultimately focused on the human story of the five people trapped at the bottom of the ocean.
While the documentary was controversial, the program’s producers pledged to treat the story with sensitivity and responsible filmmaking. Despite the backlash, the program aired as scheduled and offered a glimpse into the tragedy surrounding the missing submersible and the human story behind it.
