The Titanic Submersible Incident and its Unexpected Connections
The tragic story of the Titanic submersible incident involving OceanGate's doomed craft has taken an unexpected twist. Last week, the submersible imploded, resulting in the confirmed deaths of all five people on board.
As the investigation into the incident unfolded, it revealed a concerning lack of safety measures within OceanGate's tourism business. This prompted comparisons to historical incidents such as Big Bird declining a trip on the Challenger space shuttle and Seth McFarlane missing a flight on 9/11.
Interestingly, the incident has garnered attention from various sources, including the popular Horror game Iron Lung. Although developer Mike Winter has not directly compared the game to the Titanic submersible incident, it serves as a point of connection.
Furthermore, game developer and former Microsoft employee Ken Gillen shared an image of Gabe Newell, the creator of Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life, aboard a submarine. The image showed Newell using a Logitech controller, which also raised comparisons to OceanGate's use of Logitech controllers to pilot the craft.
Richard Garriott, known as Lord British and creator of the Ultima series, shared a message from the president of the Explorer's Club. The message confirmed the tragic loss of all five crew members aboard the OceanGate Titan.
Notably, influencer and popular YouTuber MrBeast, also known as Dan Middleton, revealed that he had been invited to ride the Titan but declined due to safety concerns.
Despite skepticism about the authenticity of Middleton's claim, his massive YouTube following and reputation for engaging in extravagant stunts make it unlikely that he would fabricate such a story.
The format of Middleton's original tweet even became a meme, with other influencers and celebrities sharing screenshots of their own declined invitations.
Given MrBeast's status as one of the biggest influencers worldwide, it is possible that OceanGate extended a back-channel invitation to him, considering his brand built around stunt-based content. Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate, was reportedly seeking prominent clients to endorse the operation.
Patrick Lahey, president of Triton Submarines and a competitor to OceanGate, commented on the allegations surrounding OceanGate, describing them as predatory. He emphasized that individuals must genuinely believe they are in danger for such tactics to work.
The full story behind MrBeast's declined invitation remains unclear, adding an intriguing aspect to the submersible incident.
If you're interested in learning more about the Titanic submersible incident, don't miss our breakdown of all the relevant Titanic facts and figures. Additionally, explore our list of favorite underwater games, including Abzu, Subnautica, and Below.
