Sub was forced to abort past mission when battery suddenly drained and surface comms blacked out, previous passenger claims
Previous passengers of the Titan submersible currently missing in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean have opened up about grim system failures on past missions.
Some people who risked their lives to view the sunken wreckage of the Titanic have told of radio failures, flickering lights and being at the mercy of deep sea currents during their voyages.
Mexican actor Alan Estrada shared chilling details of his own journey in the Titan online.
The YouTube vlogger revealed that Titan's energy source quickly drained to 40 percent power while he was on board in July 2022.
His mission was slashed down from a four-hour adventure to one so the sub could return to the surface before it lost full power.
"For safety reasons this is completely understandable when the last battery - the submersible has two batteries - when the second battery has only 40 per cent left, it is necessary to return to the surface for safety," he said on YouTube.
"This means that the four hours that they tell you that you are going to be down there are not fulfilled."
He also revealed that the now-missing submersible suffered a two-hour communication blackout with the surface during his voyage.
Estrada was originally scheduled to travel to the Titanic's gravesite with OceanGate in July 2021, however, his trip was pushed back by a year due in the wake of unspecified 'difficulties' with the sub.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Estrada said: "My biggest concern was obviously losing my life. All the people who made this expedition … we are aware of the risks we are taking. It's not a surprise."
Another explorer, German 60-year-old Arthur Loibl, sunk below the depths with OceanGate in 2021.
He travelled in the great deep with Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, both of whom are now missing on board the vanished submarine.
Loibl revealed there were several issues before they even hit the water, claiming the first submarine 'didn’t work'.
They managed to get underwater five hours behind schedule due to electrical problems with the submersible.
But just before they were to set off on their underwater voyage, a piece of kit designed to balance the vessel broke.
It was reattached with zip ties.
"It was a suicide mission back then," he alleged to Bild.
He added: "It must be hell down there. There’s only 2.5m (8ft) of space, it’s four degrees, there’s no chair."
"I feel bad, I’m nervous, I have a sinking feeling in my stomach. I was incredibly lucky back then."
He revealed the Titanic dive was the 'most extreme' expedition he's ever been on.
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