A desperate search for a missing five-person submersible has ended after pieces of the vessel were discovered following a likely “catastrophic implosion,” the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.
The vessel went missing Sunday morning while ferrying tourists to view the sunken wreckage of the Titanic off the coast of southeast Canada. It was said to have a 96-hour supply of oxygen, which the passengers would have exhausted by Thursday morning.
Wealthy British adventurer Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman were on board. French Navy veteran Paul-Henry “PH” Nargeolet, who would be driving the vessel, and Stockton Rush, CEO and founder of watercraft operator OceanGate Expeditions, were also among the crew.
Read live updates on the investigation below:
Pinned
WSJ: Secret Navy System Detected Sub Implosion On Sunday
A top secret U.S. Navy acoustic system picked up the sound of the Titan submersible imploding shortly after the vessel vanished in the North Atlantic on Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Navy system is designed to detect enemy submarines and began listening for the sub after it lost communications.
“The U.S. Navy conducted an analysis of acoustic data and detected an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,” a senior U.S. Navy official told the paper in a statement. “While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission.”
The Navy system is designed to detect enemy submarines and began listening for the sub after it lost communications.
“The U.S. Navy conducted an analysis of acoustic data and detected an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost,” a senior U.S. Navy official told the paper in a statement. “While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission.”
This Is The End Of Our Live Blog Coverage
HuffPost is going to end our live coverage of the missing Titan submersible. You can read more about the five people lost in the disaster here.
Please visit HuffPost.com for further updates.
Please visit HuffPost.com for further updates.
NewsNation Defends ‘Oxygen Countdown’ During Televised Segments On Missing Sub
NewsNation broadcasted a ticking “oxygen countdown” alongside its coverage of the missing submersible, which prompted backlash online.
The news outlet stood by its reporting in a statement to HuffPost on Thursday.
“The oxygen levels on the Titan submersible have always been an essential and important part of this story. Multiple media outlets have published or aired stories tracking the remaining oxygen on the Titan as the search continued. In fact, it would be irresponsible not to include this information in the story of the rescue effort,” a NewsNation spokesperson said in an email.
Still, there were multiple possible scenarios involving the missing craft, including an implosion.
“Is this new years eve? what's with the countdown?” one Twitter user tweeted.
“How insensitive having a countdown clock for oxygen…” another wrote.
Pointing to debris found near the site of the Titanic, the U.S. Coast Guard has said the implosion is what likely occurred, killing the passengers instantly.
Read more here.
The news outlet stood by its reporting in a statement to HuffPost on Thursday.
“The oxygen levels on the Titan submersible have always been an essential and important part of this story. Multiple media outlets have published or aired stories tracking the remaining oxygen on the Titan as the search continued. In fact, it would be irresponsible not to include this information in the story of the rescue effort,” a NewsNation spokesperson said in an email.
Still, there were multiple possible scenarios involving the missing craft, including an implosion.
“Is this new years eve? what's with the countdown?” one Twitter user tweeted.
“How insensitive having a countdown clock for oxygen…” another wrote.
Pointing to debris found near the site of the Titanic, the U.S. Coast Guard has said the implosion is what likely occurred, killing the passengers instantly.
Read more here.
Teen Passenger’s Aunt Says He Was ‘Terrified’ To Go On Voyage
Suleman Dawood, the 19-year-old passenger aboard Titan with his father, told a relative before embarking on the submersible voyage that he “wasn’t very up for it” and felt “terrified” about the journey, his aunt told NBC News.
Azmeh Dawood – the sister of passenger Shahzada Dawood – told the network through tears: “I feel disbelief. It’s an unreal situation.”
Her nephew ultimately decided to go on the trip with his dad because it fell over Father’s Day weekend.
“I feel like I’ve been caught in a really bad film with a countdown, but you didn’t know what you’re counting down to,” she continued. “I personally have found it kind of difficult to breathe thinking of them.”
Azmeh Dawood – the sister of passenger Shahzada Dawood – told the network through tears: “I feel disbelief. It’s an unreal situation.”
Her nephew ultimately decided to go on the trip with his dad because it fell over Father’s Day weekend.
“I feel like I’ve been caught in a really bad film with a countdown, but you didn’t know what you’re counting down to,” she continued. “I personally have found it kind of difficult to breathe thinking of them.”
Explorers Club Pays Tribute To Members Lost On Board Titan
The president of The Explorers Club, a professional society focused on field study, paid a heartfelt tribute to those lost on board the Titan, including two of the club’s members.
“Our hearts are broken. I am so sorry to have to share this tragic news,” Richard Garriott de Cayeux, president of The Explorers Club, said in the statement.
Hamish Harding, one of the victims, is “a dear friend to me personally,” Garriott de Cayeux said.
“Our hearts are broken. I am so sorry to have to share this tragic news,” Richard Garriott de Cayeux, president of The Explorers Club, said in the statement.
Hamish Harding, one of the victims, is “a dear friend to me personally,” Garriott de Cayeux said.
Biden Administration Weighs In
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas released a statement on the loss of the submersible Thursday afternoon.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the Titan’s passengers and crew during this incredibly difficult time,” reads the statement. “I commend the work and leadership of the United States Coast Guard on this extremely complex mission, and we are grateful to our interagency and international partners for their coordination in our search and rescue efforts.”
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the Titan’s passengers and crew during this incredibly difficult time,” reads the statement. “I commend the work and leadership of the United States Coast Guard on this extremely complex mission, and we are grateful to our interagency and international partners for their coordination in our search and rescue efforts.”
What Exactly Is A Catastrophic Loss Of Pressure?
As a submersible descends further into the ocean's depths, it’s designed to maintain the atmospheric pressure humans are adapted to. While pressure on land is 14.7 pounds per square inch, pressure at the Titanic’s resting place is a whopping 6,000 pounds per square inch.
As Scientific American explained this week: “That means every square inch of an [the submersible’s] surface experiences the equivalent of 5,500 pounds of force. Such an amount is greater than the bite pressure exerted by some of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom.” Though it’s unclear at what point in its descent the submersible experienced the loss of cabin pressure, officials believe this led to its demise.
During Friday’s press conference, officials said the debris field was located 1,600 feet from the wreck of the Titanic and was consistent with an “implosion in the water column.” The comments suggest the vessel never reached the seafloor but rather experienced a catastrophic loss of cabin pressure during its descent.
Erik Cordes, a deep sea ecologist and professor at Temple University, told HuffPost that an implosion — much like an explosion — would have scattered pieces of the submersible into the water. That debris would have then rained down across an area of the seafloor.
Cordes has been on dozens of dives in manned submersibles and said: "It would implode but still send stuff everywhere.”
As Scientific American explained this week: “That means every square inch of an [the submersible’s] surface experiences the equivalent of 5,500 pounds of force. Such an amount is greater than the bite pressure exerted by some of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom.” Though it’s unclear at what point in its descent the submersible experienced the loss of cabin pressure, officials believe this led to its demise.
During Friday’s press conference, officials said the debris field was located 1,600 feet from the wreck of the Titanic and was consistent with an “implosion in the water column.” The comments suggest the vessel never reached the seafloor but rather experienced a catastrophic loss of cabin pressure during its descent.
Erik Cordes, a deep sea ecologist and professor at Temple University, told HuffPost that an implosion — much like an explosion — would have scattered pieces of the submersible into the water. That debris would have then rained down across an area of the seafloor.
Cordes has been on dozens of dives in manned submersibles and said: "It would implode but still send stuff everywhere.”
James Cameron: ‘Astonishing’ Similarities Between Titanic, Sub Disasters
James Cameron, the Academy Award-winning director of the 1997 film “Titanic” who famously visited the wreckage site dozens of times, appeared on ABC News shortly after news broke of the submersible’s apparent implosion to offer a critical take on OceanGate’s safety protocols.
“Deep submergence diving is a mature art,” Cameron said, noting that similar vessels have been rigorously pressure tested due to the threat of implosion. “Many people in the community were very concerned about this sub. And a number of the top players in the deep submergence engineering community even wrote letters to the company saying that what they were doing was too experimental to carry passengers.”
“I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night,” Cameron continued. “For a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded, to take place at the same exact site… I think is just astonishing. It’s really quite surreal."
Watch the interview here.
“Deep submergence diving is a mature art,” Cameron said, noting that similar vessels have been rigorously pressure tested due to the threat of implosion. “Many people in the community were very concerned about this sub. And a number of the top players in the deep submergence engineering community even wrote letters to the company saying that what they were doing was too experimental to carry passengers.”
“I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night,” Cameron continued. “For a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded, to take place at the same exact site… I think is just astonishing. It’s really quite surreal."
Watch the interview here.
Key Moment
Read OceanGate's Full Statement
Coast Guard Press Conference Concludes
Mauger concluded the press conference by commending the “huge international and interagency effort” to find the submersible.
“I’m really grateful for all of the responders that came out to support this and really search for the vessel,” he said. “It is a difficult day for all of us, and it’s especially difficult for the families.”
The Coast Guard said no further press conferences are planned at this time.
“I’m really grateful for all of the responders that came out to support this and really search for the vessel,” he said. “It is a difficult day for all of us, and it’s especially difficult for the families.”
The Coast Guard said no further press conferences are planned at this time.
Banging Noises Heard Appear Unrelated
Mauger said there appeared to be no link between the banging noises detected in the search area and the submersible.
He added, “This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel, which would have generated a significant broadband sound” that would have been picked up by sonar detection.
He added, “This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel, which would have generated a significant broadband sound” that would have been picked up by sonar detection.
Little Chance Of Finding Remains
Mauger cast doubt on rescue crews’ ability to recover the remains of those on board who are now presumed dead.
“This is an incredibly unforgiving environment,” Mauger said. “We’ll continue to work and continue to search the area, but I don’t have an answer for prospects at this time.”
“This is an incredibly unforgiving environment,” Mauger said. “We’ll continue to work and continue to search the area, but I don’t have an answer for prospects at this time.”
Coast Guard Says More Information Will Be Gathered
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families,” Mauger continued during the press conference. “I can only imagine what this has been like for them, and I hope that this discovery offers some solace during this difficult time.”
Mauger said the remotely operated vehicles will remain at the debris site to “continue to gather information.” He added they are still working to develop a timeline of what happened after the submersible disappeared.
Mauger said the remotely operated vehicles will remain at the debris site to “continue to gather information.” He added they are still working to develop a timeline of what happened after the submersible disappeared.
Key Moment
Coast Guard: Sub Likely Experienced 'Catastrophic Loss’ Of Pressure Chamber
In a press conference, Real Admiral John Mauger said a remote-operated vehicle discovered debris “approximately 1600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor.”
The debris “is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber of the missing submersible,” Mauger said.
Families of those on board were notified immediately after the discovery.
The debris “is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber of the missing submersible,” Mauger said.
Families of those on board were notified immediately after the discovery.
OceanGate: All Aboard Sub Perished
OceanGate released a statement Thursday saying the company believes everyone aboard the company’s submersible “have sadly been lost.”
The statement continues: “This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community and for each of the family members of those lost at sea.”
The statement continues: “This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community and for each of the family members of those lost at sea.”
Press Conference Starting Shortly
The Coast Guard’s press conference is scheduled to begin in about 10 minutes. Check back here for live updates.
Marine Expert Says ‘Landing Frame And Rear Cover’ From Sub Found
David Mearns, a scientist and oceanographer, said in a Sky News interview that the debris found near the Titanic’s resting place was believed to be from the missing submersible.
“There’s a WhatsApp group between ourselves and The Explorers’ Club that we’ve all been connected to as soon as this happened, and our president is directly connected to the ships that are out there,” Mearns said. The club was founded at the turn of the 20th century to promote exploration.
“The message that they are telling me [is], if you are talking about debris, it was a landing frame and a rear cover from the submersible. So, again, this is a very unconventional submarine. That rear cover is the pointy end of it, and the landing frame is the little frame that it seems to sit on. And that’s how it gets docked into the landing bit. So that confirms it’s the submersible.”
Speaking earlier this week to the BBC, Mearns said that he personally knew two of the men on board the vessel — Hamish Harding and P.H. Nargeolet — through the Explorers’ Club.
The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to give an official update at 3 p.m. ET.
“There’s a WhatsApp group between ourselves and The Explorers’ Club that we’ve all been connected to as soon as this happened, and our president is directly connected to the ships that are out there,” Mearns said. The club was founded at the turn of the 20th century to promote exploration.
“The message that they are telling me [is], if you are talking about debris, it was a landing frame and a rear cover from the submersible. So, again, this is a very unconventional submarine. That rear cover is the pointy end of it, and the landing frame is the little frame that it seems to sit on. And that’s how it gets docked into the landing bit. So that confirms it’s the submersible.”
Speaking earlier this week to the BBC, Mearns said that he personally knew two of the men on board the vessel — Hamish Harding and P.H. Nargeolet — through the Explorers’ Club.
The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to give an official update at 3 p.m. ET.
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