In a somber announcement on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that the five individuals on board a missing submersible met a fatal fate, likely resulting from a devastating implosion. The grim conclusion brings an end to the extensive international search for the vessel, which had embarked on a voyage to explore the depths of the Titanic.
OceanGate Expeditions, the U.S.-based company responsible for operating the Titan submersible, expressed deep condolences, acknowledging the fallen crew as true adventurers who possessed a profound dedication to exploring and preserving the world’s oceans. In a statement, the company conveyed their heartfelt sympathies to the families of these courageous individuals during this tragic period.
During a press conference, Rear Admiral John Mauger of the U.S. Coast Guard shared that a remotely operated deep-sea robot, deployed from a Canadian vessel, had discovered the wreckage of the Titan on Thursday morning.
The site was located approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) away from the bow of the century-old Titanic wreck, resting at a depth of 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface. Admiral Mauger confirmed that the debris field observed at the location aligned with the characteristics of a catastrophic implosion of the submersible.
The Quest Times reports that among the five individuals lost in this devastating incident were British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, aged 58; Pakistani-born business magnate Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman, both of whom held British citizenship; 77-year-old French oceanographer and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who had made numerous visits to the wreck over the years; and Stockton Rush, the American founder and CEO of OceanGate, who was piloting the ill-fated submersible.