The company that developed and operated the doomed Titan submersible asked its employees to forego paychecks as it faced economic challenges, according to witnesses testifying before the US Coast Guard body probing the vessel’s deadly implosion last year.

During the submersible’s final dive on June 18, 2023, the crew lost contact after an exchange of texts about Titan’s depth and weight as it descended. The support ship Polar Prince then sent repeated messages asking if Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display.