The Titan submersible had to abort a dive just days before the implosion that killed its five passengers as they explored the wreck of the Titanic, an ex-employee of the company that operated the vessel testified on Thursday. The testimony from former OceanGate scientific director Steven Ross came as the US Coast Guard began a two-week hearing on Monday into the 2023 catastrophe, which will feature evidence as to what went wrong and whether physical or design failure contributed to the accident, which garnered worldwide attention.

Ross told the hearing that the earlier dive had to be aborted due to a valve malfunction that left at least one passenger hanging upside down and took “considerable time” to correct.

He said that when the privately-owned and operated submersible surfaced during that dive, it tilted so its bow was pointing upwards at a 45-degree angle.

Ross, who was inside along with four other passengers, explained that “there’s nothing to hold on to inside this submersible.”

The pilot that day — OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who died in the implosion days later — “crashed into the rear bulkhead,” Ross said. 

“The rest of the passengers tumbled about. I ended up standing on the rear bulkhead,” he continued. 

“One passenger was hanging upside down, and the other two managed to wedge themselves into the bow end cap.”

He said no one was injured in the incident, but that inside the cramped and confined space “it was uncomfortable and unpleasant, and it took considerable time to correct the problem” — at least an hour, by his reckoning. 

Rush, he said, was “upset” by the incident.

Rush and four passengers descended in the submersible on June 18, 2023, to observe the wreck of the Titanic.

But contact was lost less than two hours after their departure. A vast rescue operation was launched in the hope that the passengers had simply lost power and were drifting helplessly in the ocean’s depths.

However, within days it became clear that the sub had been destroyed in a cataclysmic implosion. 

Victims are presumed to have died instantly in the disaster, which occurred under the crushing pressure of the North Atlantic at a depth of more than two miles (nearly four kilometers).

Apart from Rush, the four others on the Titan were British explorer Hamish Harding, French submarine expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani-British tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman.

The family of Nargeolet has taken OceanGate to court, claiming $50 million for negligence. 

A debris field was found 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, which sits 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York, with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In a dramatic moment, a Carnival cruise ship made contact with a chunk of ice in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord last Thursday but emerged unscathed. Despite one passenger likening the incident to a “Titanic moment,” a thorough inspection of the hull revealed no damage, according to a statement from Carnival Cruise Line. ”The ship was struck with an errant piece of drifting ice last Thursday while sailing in Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska,” the company operating the cruise said in a statement to Fox Business.

The Carnival Spirit sustained no damage after striking ice in Alaska and completed its 7-day voyage as scheduled, without any delays. Carnival said, “The vessel continued on its cruise and there has been no impact to operations.” 

However, the incident drew a dramatic comparison to the Titanic moment from one passenger. “If we die, it was damn well worth it. It’s a Titanic moment,” passenger Cassandra Goskie said in a video she posted in a private Carnival VIFP Club Members Facebook group. In the video, she is heard saying, ”Oh, we are hitting it,” as the ship makes contact with the ice. 

Another passenger shared pictures on X and wrote, ”From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!”

One image captures a tugboat trailing behind the Carnival Spirit as it navigates through icy waters, gliding smoothly over the partially submerged ice.

See the pictures here:

From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” pic.twitter.com/KIUkrlLtx9

— James Spann (@spann) September 6, 2024

The Carnival Spirit is expected to arrive in Seattle on September 24, marking the end of its 14-day round-trip Alaska cruise that began on September 10. 

Canadian singer Celine Dion criticised former US President Donald Trump on Saturday for using her song “My Heart Will Go On” from the 1997 film ‘Titanic’ at his campaign event in Montana without getting her consent or endorsement.

The 56-year-old issued a strong statement, after the Republican candidate played a video of the hit song about the sinking Titanic as a musical interlude, at his recent rally. A statement on her X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram account said, “Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.”

Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign… pic.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024

It added, “In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use…. And really, THAT song?”

Since being shared, the post has amassed several reactions on social media.

“Yes they used ‘THAT SONG’,” said a user.

Another said, “I hope she sues Trump and RNC. But I have to say using the Titanic theme song for the Trump campaign is very appropriate for this sinking political campaign.”

“That last line is ICONIC!!” remarked a person.

A fourth said, “Makes one wonder why its sooo difficult for trump & his campaign to adhere to rules/guidelines? Thank you for addressing this unauthorized use.”

“For me it’s perfect for the Tumptanic!” said an Instagram user.

“Too bad for her – it would be a positive thing. Sadly she doesn’t see it that way. I have been her fan for 30 years but I will have to respectfully disagree with her political beliefs,” wrote another person.

Notably, the song about the shipwreck in 1912 is more about love, sorrow, and perseverance. The song was written by James Horner and has lyrics by Will Jennings. It took home four Grammys, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, as well as an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

During the song’s interlude at his rally in Bozeman, Montana, Mr Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been closing the gap on him in the polls. Meanwhile, Ms Harris has been playing Beyonce’s song “Freedom,” which the pop star granted the Vice President permission to use.