How did the BP oil disaster happen?

The BP oil disaster, also known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, occurred on April 20, 2010, when a blowout preventer failed on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This failure led to a massive explosion and fire on the rig, causing 11 crew members to lose their lives and resulting in the uncontrolled release of an estimated 4.9 million barrels of crude oil into the ocean over 87 days. Contributing factors included inadequate safety measures, poor risk management, and a culture prioritizing profit over safety. The spill had devastating environmental impacts and prompted widespread criticism of BP and regulatory agencies.