The submersible heading to the Titanic that disappeared on Sunday with five people on board suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” killing everyone on board, said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger at a press conference on Thursday (22).
The tail cone and other debris from the missing submersible were found about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic.
Minutes before the press conference, OceanGate Expeditions, the company operating the deep-sea submersible, issued a statement saying it believed the five men on board the vessel were dead.
“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. Our hearts go out to these five souls and all of their family members during this tragic time. We mourn the loss of life and the joy they brought to all who knew them,” OceanGate said in a statement.
The five men are Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
On Thursday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard reported finding a “debris field” in the search area near the Titanic that, according to a memo obtained by CNN, was assessed as being from the external body of the submersible.
The wreckage was located on the ocean floor around 8:55 AM ET.
Leaders in the submersible vessel industry warned of potential issues that could become “catastrophic” with the vehicle’s design. They also questioned whether OceanGate Expeditions followed standard certification procedures.
OceanGate has been offering trips to the Titanic wreck since 2021 – at a price of up to $250,000 per person – as part of an expanding high-risk travel industry. The company described the trip on its website as an “exciting and unique travel experience.”
Source: CNN and The New York Times