All five passengers on board the Titan submersible have died, the US Coast Guard says
At a press briefing in Boston on Thursday, Rear admiral Mauger confirmed that parts of the Titan were found approximately 1600ft from the bow of the Titanic wreck.
The debris discovered by an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) near the Titanic.was consistent with a “catastrophic implosion”, he said.
The rear admiral said he cannot confirm whether the bodies can be recovered, saying it is an “incredibly unforgiving environment”
The operator of the Titan submersible, OceanGate also confirmed the development.
“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 company said in a pensive statement on Thursday.
The company said the “men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans”.
It also send condolences to every member of their families.
“We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss.”
“This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea.”
The missing submersible was carrying British billionaire Hamish Harding and dual Pakistani-British citizens Shahzada Dawood, a tycoon, and his son Suleman. OceanGate Expeditions charges $250,000 for a seat on the sub.
Also on board is OceanGate’s CEO, Stockton Rush, and a French submarine operator Paul-Henri Nargeolet, nicknamed “Mr Titanic” for his frequent dives at the site.
Ships and planes have scoured 10,000 square miles (around 20,000 square kilometers) of surface water — roughly the size of the US state of Massachusetts — for the vessel.
The Titanic’s watery grave is situated 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, and more than two miles below the surface of the North Atlantic.
The Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage from England to New York with 2,224 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people died.
