OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owns the Titan submersible which went missing during its journey to the wreck of the Titanic, could face an investigation for criminal liability if the missing crew is not found alive. Criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter has said that while a waiver is signed by eager passengers who paid up to $250,000 for the dangerous journey, it does not fully protect OceanGate from liability. If participants were misled about the risks or pressured to agree to activities they would normally avoid, it could lead to criminal charges. Ritter cautioned that the matter could also be complicated by the fact that OceanGate’s CEO, Stockton Rush, is among the missing crew. Rush is a survivor of prostate cancer and was making the journey to collect data for a research project on the disease’s impact on astronauts.
The Titan sub, which was traveling in international waters, is thought to have run out of emergency oxygen on 1 December. The status of both the vessel and its crew is unknown. However, a widespread rescue effort led by the US and Canadian Coast Guards has located a debris field on the ocean floor. The tragedy has sparked debate in the industry about how far it is responsible for safety in these situations.
