‘The Simpsons’ Writer Mike Reiss Talks About His Time Aboard Doomed Titanic Submersible

Mike Reiss once took an underwater voyage to Titanic aboard the same submersible that just took its last fateful trip.

Renowned for his wit and humor, "The Simpsons" writer has taken on a more somber tone concerning the unfortunate event. As the world anxiously learned of their fate, Reiss shared his outlook on the situation.

The television comedy writer shared a sobering perspective on the rescue mission for the missing submarine named "Titan," which was exploring the Titanic wreckage. With personal experience aboard the exact vehicle on multiple occasions, the creator of the "Queer Duck" confessed his lack of optimism regarding the outcome.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast on June 19, he shed light on the daunting challenges to be faced by the rescue teams in locating the submersible, which disappeared in the North Atlantic on June 18 with five individuals on board. The film writer stated:

"I know the logistics of it, and I know how vast the ocean is and how very tiny this craft is. If it's down at the bottom, I don't know how anyone is going to be able to access it, much less bring it back up." 

Having embarked on three separate dives with OceanGate Expeditions — the company that owns the Titan submarine, Reiss revealed a troubling pattern of lost communication during these underwater expeditions. 

Reflecting on his experiences, he admitted that the thought of potentially never resurfacing lingered throughout the journeys. He said, "I got on the sub, and at the back of my mind was 'well, I may never get off this thing,' that's always with you." 

Despite acknowledging the impressive design of the Titan submarine, the producer highlighted the experimental nature of the technology involved. While emphasizing that the vessel itself is not flawed, he noted, "It's just that this is all new technology, and they're learning it as they go along." 

Drawing a parallel to the early days of space exploration and aviation, the "Horton Hears a Who!" story consultant clarified, "You have just to remember the early days of the space program or the early days of aviation, where you just make a lot of mistakes on the way to figuring out what you're doing." 

As the clock ticks, the Titan faces a critical deadline, with its emergency oxygen supply projected to deplete on Thursday, intensifying the race against time for a potential rescue.

The US Coast Guard has warned that the oxygen supply on the missing underwater craft is expected to expire today at 12:08 pm UK time. According to Daily Mail, rescue efforts have been in full swing throughout the night as authorities strive to locate and save the five individuals trapped onboard the vessel. 

The incident occurred when the submersible lost communication with tour operators on Sunday, approximately 435 miles south of St. John's, Newfoundland, while en route to the historic Titanic shipwreck site off the coast of Canada. 

The vessel lost communication with tour operators on Sunday while about 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada. 

A group of individuals known as the Titan Five, including British billionaire Hamish Harding, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French navy veteran PH Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, remain trapped onboard. 

The US Coast Guard has taken charge of the large-scale international rescue operation, intensifying their efforts after hearing underwater noises on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, despite extensive investigations, experts have yet to identify the source or cause of these mysterious sounds. 

Meanwhile, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) deployed beneath the sea have yet to be successful in producing any positive results. Despite the mounting pressure, the rescue teams have refused to relinquish hope. US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick emphasized, "We must remain optimistic and hopeful when we are in a search and rescue case." He added:

"If we continue to search, potentially we could be at that point... And that's a discussion we will have with the families long before I am going to discuss here publicly."