In a resurfaced podcast interview from late last year, Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, voiced concerns about potential underwater obstacles hindering a submersible's return to the surface. This revelation comes as the company's Titan submersible remains missing during a dive to the Titanic wreckage.

Speaking on the "Unsung Science" podcast in November 2022, Rush specifically highlighted the risks of overhangs, fishing nets, and other entanglement hazards. He emphasized the importance of cautious piloting techniques to avoid such obstructions. "It's pretty clear -- if it's an overhang, don't go under it. If there is a net, don't go near it. So, you can avoid those if you are just slow and steady," Rush stated.

Rush also downplayed the overall dangers of submersible travel, stating, "I don’t think it’s very dangerous." He pointed to the lack of major injuries or fatalities in submersible activities over the past three decades. Instead, he expressed greater concern about surface-level risks, such as accidents during boarding or disembarking the vessel.

In a thought-provoking statement, Rush also discussed his philosophy on safety, saying, "You know, at some point, safety just is pure waste... At some point, you’re going to take some risk, and it really is a risk/reward question. I think I can do this just as safely by breaking the rules."

The podcast highlighted the Titan's safety mechanisms, including detachable weights for buoyancy and onboard oxygen tanks. However, contact with the submersible was lost on Sunday, and its 96-hour oxygen supply is dwindling.