OceanGate’s former finance director reveals she quit after CEO asked her to pilot doomed sub
‘I did not trust him,’ the ex-finance director said about Mr Rush
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.OceanGate’s former finance director said she was “freaked out” when CEO Stockton Rush asked her to become the Titan subermissible’s pilot even though her “background is in accounting.”
After David Lochridge, the vessel’s previous pilot, was fired, Rush tapped the finance director to head the sub, she told The New Yorker. Without Mr Lochridge around, “I could not work for Stockton,” she said. “I did not trust him.” She resigned after finding a new job.
The ex-finance director added that several engineers were very young – in their late teens and early 20s – and were, at least at one point, being paid a mere $15 per hour.
Mr Lochridge said he was wrongfully terminated after raising “serious quality control and safety concerns,” according to a lawsuit.
The five passengers of the Titan submersible died last month due to an implosion caused by the extreme pressures of the ocean.
The pilot and ex-finance director’s comments were far from the only concerns about the vessel.
A documentary camera operator, Brian Weed, who attended a test dive with Mr Rush was also alarmed by the CEO’s “cavalier attitude” toward “basic safety.” He recited his conversation with Mr Rush when he asked about a potential emergency situation: “‘Well, there’s four or five days of oxygen on board, and I said, ‘What if they don’t find you?’ And he said, ‘Well, you’re dead anyway.’”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments