Jay Bloom and his son Sean Bloom are individuals who were offered discounted tickets to board the ill-fated Titan submersible, which ultimately imploded, resulting in the tragic deaths of five people.

Who is Jay Bloom and his son Sean?

Jay Bloom, a Las Vegas financier and Democrat supporter, shared text messages between himself and Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the company behind the submersible. These texts shed light on their exchange regarding safety concerns and the discounted ticket offer.

In the text messages, Jay Bloom and his son were offered a last-minute price of $150,000 per head, a significant discount from the usual fee of $250,000. Bloom expressed his safety concerns to Rush, who reassured him that the dive to the Titanic wreck was safer than activities such as flying in a helicopter or scuba diving.

Also Read: Why OceanGate Titanic submarine imploded: Exploring all theories

Rush was convinced that the risks were minimal and compared it to crossing the street. However, Bloom ultimately declined the offer due to scheduling conflicts, and the seats were taken by Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, who tragically lost their lives during the excursion. Bloom expressed his sadness over their deaths and mourned the loss of Rush and the entire crew.

Prior to the ill-fated trip, safety concerns had been raised about the Titan submersible by a former employee of OceanGate, claiming wrongful dismissal after flagging worries about the company’s alleged refusal to conduct critical, non-destructive testing of the experimental design.

Notably, even members of the deep-submergence engineering community had expressed reservations about the submersible, warning that it was too experimental to carry passengers without proper certification.

Renowned filmmaker and submersible expert James Cameron, who has extensively explored the Titanic wreck, drew parallels between the tragedy and the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. He criticized the handling of the search and rescue operation, stating that warnings went unheeded and compared it to the captain of the Titanic ignoring iceberg warnings.

Cameron also pointed out the similarities in the location of the two disasters, emphasizing the need to heed warnings and prioritize safety.

Stockton Rush, the owner of the Titan submersible, had previously offered discounted tickets to Jay Bloom and faced criticism for his experimental approach to deep-sea tourism. Rush had been warned about the potential risks associated with his approach, but he defended the design of the submersible, arguing that safety regulations hindered innovation.

Also Read: James Cameron has made 33 trips to Titanic wreckage, including one on 9/11

The recovery of the remains of those who lost their lives in the implosion is deemed unlikely due to the challenging conditions and the catastrophic nature of the event. Deep-sea experts involved in the search expressed the difficulties associated with working in such an unforgiving environment.

The tragic incident involving Jay Bloom and his son Sean Bloom serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety in any adventurous endeavor. It highlights the need for rigorous testing, certification, and adherence to safety protocols to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.