Gina Heslop
A tragic update has been announced regarding the missing OceanGate Titan submersible. The debris found near the Titanic wreck has been confirmed to belong to the submersible, and it is believed that the pressure chamber suffered a catastrophic loss. As a result, all five passengers on board the submersible have been presumed dead, and their families have been notified. The passengers were identified as British businessman Hamish Harding, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his teenage son Sulaiman.
Earlier in the day, the Coast Guard had discovered a field of debris on the ocean floor near the RMS Titanic wreck, which was the intended destination of the submersible. The rear admiral confirmed that the Titan’s tail cone was found approximately 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow by a remotely operated vehicle from Horizon Arctic.
OceanGate released a statement expressing their grief and offering condolences to the families of the lost passengers. They described the passengers as true explorers who had a passion for ocean exploration and conservation. The company expressed gratitude for the efforts of the international community in the search and rescue mission.
The passengers had paid $250,000 each for an eight-day expedition to the Titanic wreck. Safety concerns had been raised prior to the operation. The submersible went missing when it failed to resurface as scheduled and stopped communicating. The circumstances surrounding its disappearance remain unclear. A search-and-rescue mission was initiated due to the limited oxygen supply on board, but unfortunately, the passengers’ oxygen would have run out this morning.
While a crew had reported hearing banging noises every 30 minutes near the area where the submersible disappeared, the Coast Guard stated that these noises were unrelated to the discovery of the debris.
The news of the passengers’ presumed deaths is a devastating blow, and the OceanGate family expressed their deep gratitude for the support received during the mission. They hope that this tragic update can bring some closure to the families and friends of those on board the Titan.
