In a gripping session of the hearings regarding the Titan submersible disaster, which claimed five lives during its catastrophic dive to view the Titanic wreck, new and shocking images of the vessel surfaced today.

These photos reportedly reveal the critical moment in 2021 when a part of the sub's dome fell off during its ascent from a dive, raising pressing questions about the vessel's integrity.

The ongoing inquiry, now entering its second week, has deepened scrutiny on OceanGate, the company behind the Titan, following revelations about prior safety concerns.

Mark Negley, an engineer from Boeing, testified this morning, clarifying that Boeing's involvement with OceanGate was minimal, consisting only of a brief feasibility study in 2012-2013 and two acoustic evaluations in 2016.

The last communication occurred in March 2020, when Boeing declined OceanGate’s subsequent proposal.

Negley issued stark warnings to the former OceanGate CEO, Stockton Rush, concerning the safety analysis of Titan's hull.

In classified documentation reviewed by WIRED, he highlighted the "high risk of significant failure" at the depths encountered by the infamous wreck site, a point that seems all the more tragic given the eventual tragedy that unfolded.

Current Coast Guard testimony continues to reveal alarming facts about OceanGate’s operational procedures.

John Winters, a marine inspector with the Coast Guard, noted that the company never requested an inspection for Titan.

This lack of oversight has drawn significant criticism, especially since Rush allegedly expressed frustration over safety regulations.

Winters indicated that Rush believed such regulations hampered innovation—a sentiment that could have dire implications for safety.

Witness testimonies today further confirmed that another vessel, the Antipodes, intended to receive small passenger vessel certification, was never granted this status.

Instead, OceanGate received approval for an oceanographic research vessel certification.

This discrepancy raises questions about the operational classification and safety practices at OceanGate, especially considering the ambitious dives aimed at exploring historic underwater sites.

Adding to the drama, Guillermo Söhnlein, OceanGate’s co-founder, took to social media amid the hearings, announcing progress on his ambitious project to colonize Venus.

This jarring juxtaposition in priorities underscores the troubling nature of the company's leadership during the Titan debacle.

As the inquiry continues, testimony from materials engineers, including those from NASA, is expected to shed even more light on the safety shortcomings surrounding the Titan submersible.

Investigators aim to pinpoint missed warning signs and assess how regulatory processes at OceanGate may have contributed to one of the most tragic incidents in exploration history.

Stay tuned as we provide ongoing updates from these crucial hearings—questions remain, but the answers could reshape the future of deep-sea exploration forever.