Theories abound on missing Titanic sub, used for historic shipwreck tours.

Strange Rumors Surrounding the Disappearance of a Tourist Submarine

Following the mysterious disappearance of a tourist submarine that was surveying the Titanic cruise liner, a wave of strange rumors and discoveries has captured public interest.

Prominent Rumors and Their Basis

1. The sub was piloted entirely by an old video game controller (true)

   According to OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, the entire sub is controlled using a single, old video game controller. He proudly showcased the appliance, resulting in someone with him face-palming. The specific controller used is the Logitech G F710 Wireless Gamepad, first released in 2010. It operates on AA batteries and can be purchased on Amazon for a little over $30. While there is no evidence linking the controller to the sub’s disappearance, Logitech’s stock took a major hit after the revelation. However, some social media users mistakenly identified the controller as a Playstation or Xbox controller.

2. The Titan was connected to the internet using Elon Musk’s Starlink (mostly false, with an element of truth)

   Elon Musk’s Starlink came under scrutiny when it was revealed that OceanGate, the company operating the sub, uses Starlink for communications. Just days before the disappearance, OceanGate publicly thanked Starlink for providing communications during the 2023 Titanic Expedition. However, the sub itself is not connected to the internet. OceanGate’s tweets referred to the communications of the surface vessel working with the sub. Radio waves used for internet connection cannot operate underwater, so the surface vessel relies on different means of communication. There have been no reports of internet access issues related to the sub’s disappearance.

3. The Titan has gotten lost before, and the company turned off the internet to prevent a journalist from reporting on it (true)

   CBS reporter David Pogue, who was invited on the Titan last year, shared concerns about the vessel’s improvised nature. During his trip, the sub got lost for several hours while Pogue was in the surface vessel control room. To prevent him from tweeting about it, OceanGate cut off all internet access. However, Pogue later clarified that the surface vessel had not lost contact with the sub but was lost on the ocean surface, unable to find the Titanic.

4. The Titan’s television and audio system has malfunctioned and is playing Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” on loop (false)

   A rumor circulated that the Titan plays an introductory video featuring Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and that the audio system malfunctioned, causing the song to play on a loop for the trapped passengers. This rumor appears to be a joke spread by Jacobin writer Carl Beijer. The supposed screenshot from an article describing the sub’s condition does not appear elsewhere and seems to be paraphrasing journalist Martin Phillips, whose name is misspelled in the article. As all contact with the sub has been lost, it is impossible for the audio system to malfunction in this way.

5. The Titan’s single toilet is in front of the vessel’s only viewing port (true)

   The small five-person sub was designed to maximize space, resulting in the toilet being installed directly in front of the vessel’s only viewport. A diagram of the sub confirms that the toilet is located in front of the window, although a privacy curtain can be drawn while in use.

While these rumors have captured the public’s imagination, it is important to separate fact from fiction when discussing the disappearance of the tourist submarine.

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