It seems that once again “The Simpsons” has predicted the future.
In the past, the animated TV show has seemingly prophesied bizarre historical events which actually came to pass, such as Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
This time, the show may have predicted the disappearance of the OceanGate submersible that was exploring the ruins of the Titanic.
Originally airing in 2006, Season 17’s 10th episode, titled “Homer’s Paternity Coot,” features Homer Simpson’s long-lost father, Mason Fairbanks, giving a rather chilling speech before going under the sea with his son.
“Today I am filled with joy. Searching for treasure with my long-lost son. My dream for each of you is that you find the happiness I feel today,” declared Fairbanks.
After exploring for a bit, the duo comes across the remains of a massive ship filled to the brim with treasure.
Simpson, after radioing his friends to tell them of the find, manages to accidentally get the submersible stuck within a portion of the barrier reef.
Starting to panic, Simpson attempts to wrench himself free only for the sub’s “low oxygen” light to begin flashing before he descends into a coma.
Thankfully, it’s a happy ending for the character as he awakens three days later surrounded by his family.
Tourist submersible exploring Titanic wreckage disappears in Atlantic Ocean
What we know
A submersible on a pricey tourist expedition to the Titanic shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean has vanished with likely only four days’ worth of oxygen. The US Coast Guard said the small submarine began its journey underwater with five passengers Sunday morning, and the Canadian research vessel that it was working with lost contact with the crew about an hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
It was later found that a top-secret team with the US Navy detected the implosion of the Titan submersible on Sunday, but did not stop search efforts due because the evidence was “not definitive” and a decision was made to “make every effort to save the lives on board.”
Who was on board?
The family of world explorer Hamish Harding confirmed on Facebook that he was among the five traveling in the missing submarine. Harding, a British businessman who previously paid for a space ride aboard the Blue Origin rocket last year, shared a photo of himself on Sunday signing a banner for OceanGate’s latest voyage to the shipwreck.
Also onboard were Pakistani energy and tech mogul Shanzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman, 19; famed French diver and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush.
- Missing Titanic sub live updates
- Debris discovered near Titanic site during frantic search for missing crew on OceanGate sub
- Daughter of missing Titanic diver remains hopeful: ‘I think we have to trust’ search crews
- Titanic tourist Hamish Harding’s family slams OceanGate for delay in reporting missing sub
- Coast Guard knew Titan sub imploded Sunday, but continued search anyway — here’s why
What’s next?
“We’re doing everything we can do to locate the submersible and rescue those on board,” Rear Adm. John Mauger told reporters. “In terms of the hours, we understood that was 96 hours of emergency capability from the operator.
Coast Guard officials said they are currently focusing all their efforts on locating the sub first before deploying any vessel capable of reaching as far below as 12,500 feet where the Titanic wreck is located.
Mauger, first district commander and leader of the search-and-rescue mission, said the US was coordinating with Canada on the operation.
The debris recovered from the US Coast Guard’s Titan submersible search site early Thursday included “a landing frame and a rear cover from the submersible.”
After search efforts to recover the stranded passengers proved futile, and bits of debris from the submersible were found, it was decided that the sub imploded, which correlated with an anomaly picked up by the US Navy in the same area.
The Coast Guard later reported that all 5 passengers were confirmed dead, and rescue efforts were halted.
The recently resurfaced clip has been causing waves of shock and awe on Twitter.
“Count on The Simpson to always predict some s – – t,” said one social media user.
“Before I do anything dangerous ima make sure ‘The Simpsons’ haven’t made an episode of it yet cos how the f – – k did they predict the #Titanic Submarine incident,” tweeted a second person.
“The Simpson writers should be investigated because this is insane,” joked a third person.
“I do not know what surprises them of the lost submarine in the Atlantic that went down to see the remains of the Titanic, the Simpsons had already warned us,” echoed a fourth person.
The small submersible, owned by OceanGate Expeditions and only carrying about four days’ worth of oxygen, reportedly vanished about an hour and 45 minutes into the trip on Sunday.
Since then, rescue teams have been working around the clock in an attempt to rescue the five passengers onboard.
As of Thursday, it was reported that the small underwater vehicle has officially run out of emergency oxygen.
This is also not the first time an OceanGate sub has gotten lost.
In 2022, the $250,000 experience went dark for a few hours after it lost the signal from the ship that was guiding the vessel.
OceanGate Exploration has also faced several questions regarding the submersible’s safety.
In 2018, the group dealt with “quality control and safety” problems after the former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, said that he raised an issue with the company’s handling of the submersible.
Lochridge claimed that he found a “lack of non-destructive testing performed on the hull of the Titan,” and when he raised the issues with OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush, he was wrongfully terminated, according to a lawsuit he filed that year.
