The family of French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who tragically died in the Titan submersible implosion, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking over $50 million. The lawsuit accuses OceanGate, the operator of the sub, of gross negligence.
Nargeolet, affectionately known as “Mr. Titanic,” was one of five individuals who perished when the Titan submersible imploded during a voyage to the Titanic wreck site in the North Atlantic in June 2023. The experimental submersible, owned by OceanGate, has since ceased operations.
Nargeolet was highly respected in the field of underwater exploration and was considered one of the foremost experts on the Titanic. His estate’s attorneys claim that the Titan had a “troubled history” and that OceanGate failed to disclose critical information about the sub’s durability and safety.
“The lawsuit further alleges that even though Nargeolet had been designated by OceanGate to be a member of the crew, many of the vessel’s flaws and shortcomings were not disclosed and were purposely concealed,” stated the Buzbee Law Firm, representing Nargeolet’s estate.
OceanGate has not commented on the lawsuit, which was filed in King County, Washington. Attorney Tony Buzbee emphasized that the family seeks to uncover the full details of how the disaster occurred and hold those responsible accountable.
After the disaster, concerns emerged about the Titan’s unconventional design and its creator’s refusal to submit to independent checks, which are standard in the industry. These concerns have cast doubts on the future of private deep-sea exploration.
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a high-level investigation into the incident, with a key public hearing scheduled for September.
The Titan’s last dive occurred on June 18, 2023, losing contact with its support vessel approximately two hours later. The wreckage was found about 984 feet off the Titanic’s bow, 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was operating the Titan during its final dive, also died in the implosion, along with British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood from a prominent Pakistani family.
Meanwhile, RMS Titanic Inc., which holds the salvage rights to the Titanic, has embarked on its first expedition to the wreck site since 2010. Nargeolet, who served as the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, was a seasoned veteran who, according to his estate’s attorneys, would not have joined the Titan expedition if he had known the true risks involved.
