A wealthy prospective passenger who ultimately declined to go on the ill-fated Titan expedition said that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush insisted that the trip was “safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving.”
Jay Bloom revealed texts starting in February show him discussing the trip and Rush offering him a discounted price of $150,000, down from the previous price of $250,000.
“My son’s friend researched what could go wrong and put a little scare in him,” Bloom texted Rush the morning of February 3. “I’m trying to talk him down. He’s excited to go but concerned about the danger.”
“I’m happy to have a video call with him. Curious what the uninformed would say the danger is and whether it’s real or imagined,” Rush responded.
“A sperm whale attacks the sub or a giant whale grabs it and compromises the hull. Really stupid stuff,” Bloom responded.
“Yeah very stupid the pressure is over 100 million pounds no sperm whale or squid is ever going to mess with the sub,” Rush wrote. “While there’s obviously risk it’s way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving. There hasn’t even been an injury in 35 years in non-military subs.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Bloom wrote on Facebook, “I am sure he really believed what he was saying. But he was very wrong. … He was absolutely convinced that it was safer than crossing the street.”
Bloom referenced the recent death of actor Treat Williams, 71, who died on June 12 after his motorcycle smashed into an SUV.
“RIP Stockton and crew,” Bloom continued. “As for Sean and I, after this right on the heels of losing Treat Williams, another friend of 25 years and former business partner, we are going to take a minute to stop and smell the roses. Tomorrow is never promised. Make the most of today.”
Rush spoke with CBS News reporter David Pogue on his podcast “Unsung Science” in 2022 about a prospective trip to see the legendary shipwreck some 12,500 feet below the Atlantic surface off of Newfoundland.
Rush spoke of the dangers involved in his work, saying, “There’s a limit. At some point, safety just is pure waste. If you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed, don’t get into your car, don’t do anything. At some point, you’re gonna take some risk and it really is a risk-reward question. … I think I can do this just as safely by breaking the rules.”