Titan submarine tragedy: Pakistani victim's wife recounts, ‘you sit in a plane without knowing how the engine works’
3 min read 04 Jul 2023, 08:27 AM ISTOn Father's Day, a British-Pakistani businessman and his son embarked on a journey to explore the wreckage of Titanic, but the expedition ended in tragedy.
PremiumOn Father's Day, 18 June, Christine Dawood witnessed her husband, Shahzada, and their son, Suleman, embark on a journey to explore the wreckage of Titanic, resting 13,000 feet beneath the surface. Little did they know that this expedition would end in tragedy.
Among the victims were Shahzada Dawood, a 48-year-old British-Pakistani businessman from a prominent Pakistani family, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman. The pair boarded the Titan, a 22-foot submersible craft, with Nikon camera armed a Rubik's Cube respectively. As they were enclosed inside the submersible, Christine watched anxiously from the support ship, accompanied by their daughter, Alina.
"You sit in a plane without knowing how the engine works," said Christine.
News arrived that communication with the submersible had been lost just 1 hour and 45 minutes into the dive. The Coast Guard confirmed the communication failure, sparking concern among the crew on the support ship.
Hours stretched into agonizing dread as Christine anxiously awaited any sign of the Titan's return. Unfortunately, four days later, Coast Guard officials announced the discovery of debris from the submersible, indicating that it had most likely imploded, resulting in the tragic loss of all those on board.
Also on board were Paul-Henri Nargeolet,77, a renowned French scientist and a global authority on the Titanic, and Hamish Harding,58, a British airline executive excitedly embarking on his first dive.
The man behind the expedition was Stockton Rush, the 61-year-old CEO of OceanGate, a company blending science and tourism. Rush, known for his innovative approach, aimed to provide a unique and unforgettable experience to his clientele.
The Dawood family's fascination with the Titanic began in 2012 when they visited an exhibition commemorating the ship's 100th anniversary. This passion grew, leading them to OceanGate's offer to explore the Titanic. In 2019, the family visited Greenland and was intrigued by the glaciers that sheathed into icebergs that's when Ms. Dawood spotted an OceanGate ad, offering trips to the Titanic, reported New York Times.
OceanGate operated with a vision similar to that of fictional tales and daring scientists: offering a select group of outsiders a rare glimpse into their groundbreaking discovery. The opportunity to witness the iconic shipwreck through a small porthole came with a price tag of $250,000 per person, with negotiations possible.
The Dawood family encountered cramped cabins during their journey. In order to accommodate everyone, the husband and wife resorted to sleeping in bunk beds, with the wife occupying the top bunk. Each of the children was assigned their own cabin. As for meals, the family gathered together in the ship's galley, where they enjoyed buffet-style dining, with food served on trays.
Every day, at both 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., hour-long or even longer all-hands meetings were held onboard the ship, Polar Prince. Main idea was to keep the paying customers; the “explorers, adventurers, and citizen scientists" to be active participants.
OceanGate's marketing material portrayed a blend of excitement and scientific exploration, appealing to a mix of clients seeking both validation and adventure. Mission participants, referred to as "mission specialists," received personalized gear and embarked on what OceanGate described as "SpaceX for the ocean." The adventurers were given shirts and jackets embroidered with their names and the flags of their countries while A patch on the sleeve read, “Titanic Survey Exploration Crew."
However, OceanGate faced criticism and skepticism within the submersible community. Concerns were raised regarding the submersible's cylindrical design, the size of the porthole, and the durability of the materials used. Despite these doubts, Rush continued to take on customers and make revisions to address safety concerns, reported New York Times.
OceanGate had planned a series of expeditions to the Titanic site. Unfavourable weather conditions in May and June and rough seas prevented the previous four attempts from reaching the Titanic. The ill-fated dive marked the final mission, known as Mission V.
