Poor safety practices, lack of oversight and toxic workplace blamed for implosion in which five people died

Inadequate safety practices, deliberate efforts to avoid oversight and a “toxic workplace culture” were among the factors that led to the 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, the US Coast Guard has said in a damning report that described the disaster as a “preventable tragedy”.

The submersible was on a commercial voyage to explore the wreck of the Titanic when it disappeared in the Atlantic, leading to the deaths of all five people on board. The ensuing search captured headlines around the world for days as it evolved from a potential rescue mission to a recovery operation.