Fake OceanGate Expeditions Twitter account sparks disgust amid search

2023-06-21

Sick fake Twitter account claiming to belong to OceanGate Expeditions sparks fury with video explaining ‘why we’re not sure we can find find missing Titanic crew alive’

The account OceanGateExpeds has been tweeting fake updates since Monday
It previously tweeted in Spanish, mostly about sport
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A fake Twitter account masquerading as that of OceanGate Expeditions, the company responsible for the missing Titanic submersible, sparked chaos and disgust on Wednesday by posting an explainer video of ‘why we’re not sure we can rescue’ the crew ‘alive’.

The account has the same profile photo and name as the legitimate company account. It has been posting updates about the frantic search since Monday.

Its recently changed username is @OceanGateExpeds, whereas the real account’s handle is @OceanGateExped.

On Wednesday morning, as the search entered its most crucial stage with just 24 hours of oxygen remaining in the tiny vessel, the fake account shared a video graphic illustrating the depth of the wreckage. It had been created by a Spanish research company.

‘Here is an explanation of the complexity of the search. Even finding them in time, we are not sure that we can rescue them alive, ‘ the fake tweet said.

This tweet from a fake account claiming to belong to OceanGate Expeditions sparked fury on Wednesday

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q5C7sqVe2Vg%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

OceanGate’s real account, where the company has put out just one statement since the saga began on Sunday

This image was taken just after the sub was launched on Sunday morning in the middle of the Atlantic

The video had been viewed more than 250,000 times on Wednesday morning. Many, mistaking it for the real account, reacted with shock and disgust to the upbeat music and choice of words.

‘What a tasteless tweet. Show at least a bit of compassion and take accountability,’ said one outraged follower.

‘Not sure if this was the best thing you could’ve tweeted out right now,’ said another, while others blamed bad ‘crisis communications’.

Since the sub was reported as missing to the Coast Guard on Sunday night, OceanGate Expeditions has released two statements.

Both pointed to its commitment to the ongoing search for the missing crew.

The company said on Wednesday that it was aware of the fake Twitter account and had reported it.

There are nine boats either at the search site or on their way there to assist, along with multiple aircraft scanning the ocean surface and remote operated underwater subs.

Some mistook the tweet as a legitimate statement from the company, which is leading the search to find the sub

Fresh hope came yesterday with the detection of a ‘banging’ noise that the Coast Guard is now trying to hone in on again.

There are hopes that the sound could be an attempt by those inside the sub to emit an SOS signal.

Oxygen is due to run out on Thursday morning, 96 hours after it went down, according to OceanGate’s website.

In a statement yesterday, the company said: ‘For some time, we have been unable to establish communications with one of our submersible exploration vehicles which is currently visiting the wreck site of the Titanic.

‘Our entire focus is on the wellbeing of the crew and every step possible is being taken to bring the five crew members back safely.

‘We are deeply grateful for the urgent and extensive assistance we are receiving from multiple government agencies and deep-sea companies as we seek to reestablish contact with the submersible.

‘We pray for the safe return of the crew and passengers, and we will provide updates as they are available.’

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