The tragic news of the five passengers aboard the submersible that went missing while attempting to explore the Titanic wreckage has been confirmed by the expedition company, OceanGate Inc. In a statement released on Thursday, the company expressed their deep sorrow, stating that the passengers “have sadly been lost.” They further described them as “true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.”
Officials have reported that a debris field was located approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic wreckage. Within this debris field, five “major” pieces of wreckage were discovered, leading experts to believe that the vessel imploded. The findings were made just hours after a debris field was spotted near the Titanic’s wreckage. One witness, a friend of two of the missing men, claimed that the debris consisted of a landing frame and rear cover of the submersible.
The submersible, named Titan, measures 22 feet in length and was reported missing by its parent company, OceanGate Expeditions, on Sunday evening. Communication with the deep-sea voyagers was lost a couple of hours into their descent, prompting OceanGate to contact authorities when the submersible failed to resurface as scheduled. Extensive search and rescue efforts have been initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian officials, who have deployed various teams and equipment in hopes of locating the Titan and its five occupants, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the submersible on this mission.
It is worth noting that OceanGate offers tourism rides down to the Titanic for a staggering $250,000 per person. The other individuals on board the submersible included British explorer Hamish Harding, researcher/diver Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman. Reports indicate that the submersible had a limited life support system, with only 96 hours of breathable air, which would have run out on Thursday morning.
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During the search operation, search crews detected banging noises on their sonars, occurring at 30-minute intervals. According to an internal U.S. government memo, these noises were believed to be coming from the missing submersible, providing hope for locating the vessel.
OceanGate’s technology and safety measures for its submersible have faced scrutiny in recent days. While some parts of the Titan were made with top-notch technology, other components were found to have been sourced from makeshift consumer goods, including gaming remote controls and basic light fixtures. A former employee of OceanGate claimed to have raised safety concerns about the Titan to company management in 2018 but was allegedly fired after doing so, according to a whistleblower complaint.
Experts have expressed that the chances of the passengers’ survival are slim to none, considering the circumstances they faced. Former Coast Guard Captain Andrew Norris emphasized the multiple miracles that would be required for the passengers to survive such a terrifying incident. In a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, Norris discussed these challenges in detail.
The loss of the five passengers aboard the Titan submersible is a devastating blow to the world of exploration and deep-sea diving. Their commitment to uncovering the mysteries of our oceans and protecting their fragile ecosystems is commendable. Our thoughts and condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
