Missing Titanic Sub Update: Debris Confirmed to Be From Titan
In the latest update in the ongoing frantic search for the missing OceanGate submersible, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the the debris field located is consistent with a catastrophic explosion of the vessel.
“This morning an ROV from the vessel Horizon Arctic discovered the tailbone of the Titan submersible approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor, First Coast Guard District commander Rear Adm. John Mauger, said Thursday afternoon.
The ROV found debris that is consistent with a "catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber," with officials further noting the sea floor is an "incredibly unforgiving environment down there," when asked about a recovery plan for the victims, per NBC News.
All five crew members on board are believed to be dead, officials say, confirming that the families were notified afterward.
OceanGate also released a statement, writing: "We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost."
The vessel went missing on Sunday while headed for the wreckage site of the Titanic.
Earlier in the day on Thursday, The U.S. Coast Guard announced via Twitter on Thursday that an underwater vessel has located a debris field near the Titanic, shortly after reports that the missing Titan submersible has passed its estimated oxygen deadline, after it was projected to last for 96 hours at the time it went missing on June 18.
On Tuesday, a Canadian aircraft aiding in the search for the missing sub detected banging sounds underwater, giving rescuers hope amid rescue efforts.
News of the missing sub has gripped the nation over the past several days, one former Titanic submersible passenger spoke out about their experience aboard the Titan in 2021, shedding light on what the passengers may have been going through on the current quest.
Related: TV Documentary Surrounding Missing Titanic Submersible Set to Air Today
"It gets very hot and stuffy and so you're laying down and you have a little packed lunch with you and a little bit of water, but you're planning for the day to be there, said Aaron Newman—an investor in OceanGate. "By the time you hit the bottom, the water down there is below what standard freezing temperature is. That's going to conduct right through that metal...You had to layer up."
However, Newman insisted that he "felt very safe" throughout the journey, stating, "They were a professional crew, they did a lot of training around safety and the backup systems around dropping weights."
But the search for the current group of passengers aboard the missing Titan is still ongoing. The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to hold another press briefing at 3:00p.m. EDT on Thursday for more information.
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