Tragedy struck as the Titan submersible imploded near the shipwreck site, carrying five individuals on a mission to the Titanic, resulting in the loss of all lives on board, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
This heartbreaking conclusion marked the end of an intense search operation and a worldwide vigil for the missing Titanic Tourist Sub.
US Coast Guard Says, Titan Submersible Imploded, Killing All 5 On Board
The remaining glimmer of hope for the survival of the five men was shattered when the submersible’s oxygen supply, meant to last 96 hours from its launch on Sunday, was expected to be depleted.
The Coast Guard also reported discovering debris approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) away from the Titanic in the North Atlantic waters. Rear Adm. John Mauger from the First Coast Guard District characterized the event as a devastating vessel implosion of catastrophic proportions.
The U.S. Navy, upon analyzing their acoustic data after the craft was reported missing, uncovered an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion near the vicinity of the Titan submersible during the time of communication loss.
A senior Navy official, speaking anonymously to protect the sensitivity of the information, shared this discovery with The Associated Press on Thursday.
The Navy relayed this information to the Coast Guard, who continued their search operations despite the Navy’s inconclusive evaluation of the data.
OceanGate Expeditions, the company responsible for the submersible, issued a statement expressing their sorrow at the loss of all five individuals on board, including CEO and pilot Stockton Rush.
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Among the passengers on board people on Titanic submersible killed were Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, hailing from a distinguished Pakistani family. The group also included British adventurer Hamish Harding and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Describing the deceased as true explorers with a shared spirit of adventure and a profound commitment to exploring and preserving the world’s oceans, OceanGate mourned their loss and the joy they brought to those who knew them.
Since 2021, OceanGate has been documenting the decay of the Titanic and studying the underwater ecosystem surrounding it through annual voyages. The company has not responded to further inquiries regarding the Titan’s recent journey.
The office of OceanGate, located in the Port of Everett, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of downtown Seattle, has been declared closed indefinitely as the staff grapples with the devastating loss of their team member. This announcement was made by the Port of Everett in a statement on Thursday.
The Coast Guard remains committed to conducting further investigations to gather more information about the fate of the Titan submersible and its crew.
While the Navy’s acoustic system likely detected the implosion on Sunday, subsequent underwater sounds heard on Tuesday and Wednesday, initially raising hopes for a potential rescue, were probably unrelated to the submersible.
The revelation of the Titanic submarine missing update by the Navy’s possible lead was not publicly known until Thursday when The Wall Street Journal first reported it.
Rescue teams have been tirelessly deploying ships, planes, and other equipment to the extensive search area, spanning thousands of miles—twice the size of Connecticut—and situated in waters as deep as 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers).
Broadcasters worldwide began their newscasts on Thursday with updates on the submersible’s situation.
Al Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel, went so far as to display a countdown clock on air, ticking away the estimated time until the submersible’s air supply was expected to run out.
The White House expressed gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as their Canadian, British, and French partners, for their valuable assistance in the search and rescue operations.
Read more here: Titanic Submarine Missing: ‘Underwater Noises’ Detected Says Reports
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