BOSTON, USA – The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Thursday, June 22, 2023 that all five individuals onboard the Titan submersible, which went missing last Sunday near the site of the Titanic wreck, are believed to be dead.
The announcement follows the discovery of debris consistent with the submersible on the ocean floor.
Rear Admiral John Mauger conveyed the somber news during a press conference. “On behalf of the United States Coast Guard and the entire unified command, I offer my deepest condolences to the families,” he said.
Earlier the same day, a remotely operated vehicle located debris, including the tail cone of the Titan submersible, approximately 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow on the ocean floor. “The debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel,” Admiral Mauger said.
“Upon this determination, we immediately notified the families.
“I can only imagine what this has been like for them, and I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time,” he added.
Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, was piloting the 22-foot-long submersible. Accompanying him were four passengers: British explorer and businessman Hamish Harding, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman, and French maritime expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who had previously made over 35 dives to the Titanic wreck site.
The Titan, owned by OceanGate, was more than halfway into its dive to the Titanic wreck when it lost contact with a chartered ship on Sunday morning. The vessel was believed to carry only enough oxygen to sustain the passengers for four days.
Despite dwindling odds of survival, rescue teams held out hope that the submersible might be intact, potentially with survivors onboard. This hope was extinguished with Thursday’s announcement.
When questioned about the likelihood of recovering the bodies, Admiral Mauger expressed uncertainty, stating, “This is an incredibly unforgiving environment down there on the sea floor.”
Notably, experts in the submersible industry had previously expressed concerns about the Titan’s design, warning of potential “catastrophic” problems. There were also concerns that OceanGate Expeditions had not adhered to standard certification procedures.
OceanGate has been offering tours of the Titanic wreck since 2021 at prices up to $250,000 per person, part of a growing high-risk travel industry. The company described the tour on its website as a “thrilling and unique travel experience.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
