The document in question was an apparent transcript of a communications log between the Titan submersible as it made its descent into the Atlantic, and its mother ship, the Polar Prince, which remained on the surface of the water and acted as a base of operations for the expedition. The log was shared on social media platforms including Facebook and Reddit, and was believed to have been viewed by millions of people looking for answers in the wake of the disaster.
Beginning with the message “clear for descent. Enjoy the ride” from the crew aboard the Polar Prince, the transcript sees someone onboard the Titan, presumably the captain Stockton Rush, giving updates as the vessel progresses on its journey, checking in with the mother ship every 15 minutes (via Newsweek). The transcript then takes a chilling turn as the Titan reports an alarm on the vessel’s “Real-Time Monitoring System,” followed by the speaker reporting their intention to release ballast from the vessel and return to the surface.
According to the transcript, cracking sounds are then heard in the vessel, while it struggles to ascend. Soon after, the Polar Prince stops receiving messages from the submersible, suggesting that the Titan ran into trouble around two hours into the voyage.
