A gripping and relentless search operation has been underway since the missing Titanic sub, Titan, lost contact on Jun. 18, 2023.
However, there was a break in the case when the sea searchers made a significant discovery. The robotic deep-sea vessel, plunging into the ocean’s depths, uncovered a haunting debris field on the ocean floor Thursday morning, offering a glimpse into the possible fate of the van-sized vessel.
Experts and researchers are now in the process of reviewing the information gathered from the expedition. However, the Canadian agency responsible for the location of the debris field is not sharing any additional details.
It was hoped that this breakthrough would help the tourists aboard the Titan. Considering the submarine surpassed a critical stage earlier today. When the missing Titanic submarine departed on Sunday, it had roughly 96 hours of air supply.
Assuming the sub is still together, the passengers officially ran out of oxygen earlier this morning. Although experts say, they could have a little more time depending on the weather conditions as well as how calm the passengers have remained during this crisis.
The debris field discovery was the second glimmer of hope for the discovery of Titan. On Wednesday, Canadian search planes heard undersea noises near the location the sub is believed to have gone missing. However, remote-controlled vessels searching where the noises were recorded did not find anything.
Sadly, the discovery has come too late. According to OceanGate, who released a statement Thursday afternoon, the five passengers on the missing Titanic sub have been “sadly lost.” The company went on to call them “true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure.”
Everything We Know About The Missing Titanic Sub
The Titan’s deep-ocean adventure costs roughly $250,000 per passenger, courtesy of OceanGate. The purpose of the dive was to get an up-close look at the shipwreck of the Titanic. The “unsinkable” ship sunk and claimed the lives of over 1,500 people.
The passengers that paid the fee include British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman, French oceanographer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush, the U.S. Chief Executive of OceanGate. Rush also married a descendant of two passengers of the Titanic who did not make it off the ship before its ill-timed fate in 1912.
It has also become clear that the safety of Titan has been a concern since 2018. During a round table of submarine experts, questions came up about whether or not this vessel could withstand the conditions of this deep dive. In addition to the discussion, OceanGate’s former head of marine operations filed a lawsuit pertaining to the missing Titanic sub.
The only thing that is clear in the case of this missing submarine is that time is of the essence.
Brittany Belizor | IG @Brittieb_ | Twitter @BBelizor
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