Rush, as chief submersible pilot, had previously completed nine successful dives to the Titanic wreck site as of 2022
Princeton University graduate Stockton Rush, who was the CEO of OceanGate, was among five people who died when the company’s submersible vessel imploded, according to published reports.
The submersible vessel, known as the Titan, was on a voyage to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic when it imploded June 18, according to www.cbsnews.com. Remnants of the Titan were discovered June 22.
Rush graduated from Princeton University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering, according to Princeton University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The Princeton University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences said in a statement that it believed Rush was among those lost on the Titan.
“(Rush) was the CEO of OceanGate, which operated the vehicle. We mourn the loss of all aboard and offer our condolences to their families,” the statement said.
The submersible vehicle launched on its mission to view the RMS Titanic’s wreckage June 18, www.cbsnews.com said in published reports. It was launched from a Canadian research vessel, which lost contact with the submersible one hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said the Titan experienced a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber in a June 22 press conference, www.cbsnews.com said.
A remotely operated vehicle from a Canadian ship found the tail cone of the Titan about 1,600 feet from the bow of the RMS Titanic June 22. More debris was found nearby that was consistent with the sub, www.cbsnews.com said.
British explorer Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shadzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood, and RMS Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolot, also were onboard, reports said.
OceanGate said in a June 22 statement that it believed Rush and the other passengers “have sadly been lost.”
“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” OceanGate said in its statement.
“Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew,” the statement said.
“OceanGate is deeply grateful for the countless men and women from multiple organizations of the international community who expedited wide-ranging resources and have worked so very hard on this mission. We appreciate their commitment to finding these five explorers,” the statement said.
According to the OceanGate Expeditions website, Rush, as chief submersible pilot, completed nine successful dives to the Titanic wreck site as of 2022.