Stepson Of Billionaire On The Submarine Titan Defends His Decision To Attend Blink-182 Concert During Search For Missing Passengers

On June 19, a shocking announcement grabbed global headlines: a 21-foot submarine, the Titan, owned by OceanGate Expeditions, went missing on its voyage to the Titanic wreckage. Onboard were five passengers, including two billionaires and the company's CEO, Stockton Rush. The trip, costing $250,000 per person, took an unforeseen turn when communication with the Polar Prince research ship ceased an hour and 45 minutes into the expedition. The U.S. Coast Guard located the missing vessel roughly 900 miles off Cape Cod, submerged at a depth of around 13,000 feet. With less than 40 hours of breathable air and no escape mechanism, the situation appeared dire.

David Pogue, a CBS correspondent who had previously traveled on the same submarine, provided an unsettling glimpse into the Titan's interior: touch screen PC monitors on the floor, but no controls. "The multi-million dollar sub is controlled with a games controller," Pogue revealed. "There's no backup, there's no escape pod – it's get to the surface or die." As the countdown of breathable air inside the submarine started, ambiguous noises were detected, but their source remained unclear.

Adding a chilling twist to the narrative, Mike Reiss, a writer for The Simpsons, shared that a pre-trip waiver mentioned the possibility of death three times. OceanGate seemed aware of potential risks associated with the sub, and there are suggestions of inexperienced operators being hired by Rush to handle the cutting-edge vessel. Furthermore, OceanGate's Titan is the only submersible among the 10 worldwide capable of reaching depths beyond 4,000 meters that is not certified. OceanGate had previously dismissed concerns from industry leaders about potential catastrophic issues with the vessel, citing human error rather than mechanical failure as the cause of most marine accidents.

While the repercussions of these decisions unfolded, public opinion took a harsh turn. Some individuals, highlighting the extreme wealth disparity in our society, voiced brutal opinions about the passengers' fate. But such callous remarks seem to ignore the shared human experience of fear and panic that all would feel trapped in the depths of the ocean, faced with the impending reality of death.

We must remember that behind the labels of "billionaire" or "CEO" are people who made mistakes or misjudged situations, but who were ultimately driven by curiosity and a desire for discovery. They trusted in a system that proved to be fatally flawed. Regardless of your personal feelings toward wealth and privilege, celebrating or making light of any individual's suffering or death degrades our collective empathy and humanity.

As of today, OceanGate Expeditions has confirmed that debris was found near the Titanic, and it is indeed from the Titan. All five passengers are believed to be dead. Rear Admiral Jon Mauger with the First Coast Guard District confirmed the findings in a press conference: “The debris is consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber."

Before this information was released and the search was still ongoing, the stepson of one of the billionaires onboard was criticized for his actions while they were still looking for the passengers.

Stepson of Billionaire on the Submarine Titan Defends His Decision To Attend Blink-182 Concert During Search for Missing Passengers

Brian Szasz, the stepson of British billionaire Hamish Harding, has found an unlikely source of support during a challenging time: the music of American rock band Blink-182. Amid a frantic search for his missing stepfather and four other passengers aboard the vanished submersible Titan, Szasz has faced criticism for his decision to attend a concert while a rescue mission is ongoing. In a heartfelt response, Szasz defended his decision on social media, citing the band's longstanding role as his personal refuge during "life's toughest times."

The 37-year-old audio engineer from San Diego took to Instagram on June 20 to explain his decision. He posted a photo on his Stories from the concert with the caption: "Yes, I went to @blink-182 last night. What am I supposed to do, sit at home and watch the news? Not sorry this band has helped me through hard times since 1998."

Simultaneously, on Facebook, Szasz further detailed his stance. Screenshots captured by multiple outlets show him explaining that his family would understand his decision. He wrote, "It might be distasteful being here but my family would want me to be at the Blink-182 show as it's my favorite band and music helps me in difficult times!" Although later removed at his mother's request, the post effectively communicated Szasz's struggle and emotional turmoil.

Szasz also expressed his gratitude towards Blink-182 band members Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker, and Mark Hoppus on Twitter. "My stepdad Hamish is on this submarine lost at sea," he wrote. "I'm devastated but coming to the San Diego show tonight so you guys can give me hope and cheer me up."

As the devastating situation unfolded and they were still searching for the passengers, the company stated: "Our entire focus is on the crew members in the submersible and their families. We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible."

The passengers on board the lost submersible, alongside Harding, included CEO Stockton Rush, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood.

Szasz continues to be highly criticized for his actions during the last few days. He also shared a screenshot of a text message from Travis Barker, Blink-182 drummer and husband of Kourtney Kardashian, who extended condolences for his family during this difficult time. Many speculate that Szasz didn't take the situation seriously enough before it was announced that the passengers were dead. He has remained quiet on his social media pages since the news was released that the submersible was lost in the depths of the sea, likely because he is mourning the loss of his stepfather.

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