Titanic Submersible 'Catastrophic Implosion' Killed Five Aboard, Possibly Sunday
The titanic submersible 'catastrophic implosion' killed five aboard, possibly sunday. The Coast Guard reported Thursday afternoon that the five passengers aboard the submersible that had been missing for days were killed after the tiny vessel taking them to the Titanic debris site experienced a "catastrophic implosion."
Author:Camilo WoodReviewer:Elisa MuellerJun 23, 202310.7K Shares336.3K Views
The Titanic submersible 'catastrophic implosion' killed five aboard, possibly Sunday.
The Coast Guard reported Thursday afternoon that the five passengers aboard the submersible that had been missing for days were killed after the tiny vessel taking them to the Titanic debris site experienced a "catastrophic implosion."
Earlier in the day, members of a major worldwide search operation discovered a debris field in the general vicinity of the Titanic, which was verified to contain remnants of the Titan sub.
Rear Adm. John Mauger, head of the First Coast Guard District, at a press briefing said:
“„The debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel.- Rear Adm. John Mauger
The wreckage was discovered on the sea floor roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic's bow, according to Mauger, who added that it was too early to say when the Titanic imploded.
According to a senior military officer, an "anomaly" observed by the US Navy on Sunday was most likely the small watercraft's catastrophic blast.
The anomaly was discovered after the Navy studied its acoustic data after the submersible was reported missing that day.
That anomaly was "consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the Titan submersible was operating when communications were lost," a senior Navy officer said on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
The Navy shared the data with the Coast Guard, but it was not deemed definitive.
The debris discovered Thursday, according to Paul Hankins, the US Navy's director of salvage operations and ocean engineering, indicated a "catastrophic event."
According to Hankins and Mauger, it contained a tail cone, the pressure hull's end bell, and the aft end bell, which "basically comprise the totality of that pressure vessel."
When the 22-foot vehicle lost contact with its support ship Sunday morning, it was on its way to the Titanic site.
OceanGate, which ran the Titan and whose CEO, Stockton Rush, captained the vessel, issued a statement claiming the passengers "have sadly been lost."
"We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew," added the statement.
Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and French deep-sea explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet are believed to have drowned. The White House said in a statement:
“„Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Titan. They have been through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.- Paul-Henri Nargeolet
A Debris Field Discovered Early Thursday
Earlier Thursday, search and rescue crews remotely operating an underwater vehicle spotted wreckage near the Titanic, the day the submersible was due to run out of oxygen.
According to the Coast Guard, the debris was discovered by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) linked with the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic, which reached the sea floor and began searching for the submersible early Thursday. ROVs will be employed in the ongoing inquiry.
"Titanic" filmmaker James Cameron weighs in on the 'catastrophic' Titan sub implosion | ABC News
The intricate search and rescue attempt drew international attention and included personnel from the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. According to the Coast Guard, another ROV affiliated with the French vessel L'Atalante deployed on Thursday.
The increased search operations occurred as the Coast Guard amended its assessment that the Titan submersible will likely run out of oxygen around 7 a.m. EDT Thursday. It began with 96 hours of oxygen for a crew of five. The estimates, according to experts, are imprecise. In the end, running out of oxygen was not the most serious issue.
Wife Of OceanGate CEO Descended From Titanic Victims
According to genealogical data, the CEO of OceanGate's wife is descended from Titanic victims.
Wendy Rush, Stockton Rush's wife, is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, according to The New York Times. USA TODAY confirmed the connection by searching genealogical information online.
According to the National Archives of the United Kingdom, the pair was last seen holding hands on the deck of the Titanic as it sank. Rush's great-grandmother was their daughter Minnie, who married Richard Weil, according to Joan Adler, executive director of the Straus Historical Society, a non-profit that maintains Straus Family material.
According to her LinkedIn page, Rush works as OceanGate's director of communications and has taken part in three previous OceanGate voyages to the Titanic site.
Pakistani Teen Was A Student In Scotland
Suleman Dawood, the 19-year-old Pakistani on board the ship, was a student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, the university announced Thursday. He had just finished his first year of business school there.
"We are deeply concerned about Suleman, his father, and the others involved in this incident. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones and we continue to hope for a positive outcome," the university said.
Deep Ocean Salvage System Arrives For Search
According to the Coast Guard, rescue teams faced wind gusts of up to 19 mph and ocean surges of up to 5 feet on Thursday, with an air temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The US Navy announced Wednesday afternoon that special deep-water salvage equipment capable of hauling up to 60,000 pounds had arrived in St. John's, Canada, and may be used to pull the Titan to the surface, albeit it may take another 24 hours. The Titan, according to the OceanGate website, weighs 23,000 pounds.
Submersible Previously Had Battery Issues
According to documents filed with a U.S. District Court in Virginia, at least 46 persons successfully rode on OceanGate's submersible to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022.
"On the first dive to the Titanic, the submersible encountered a battery issue and had to be manually attached to its lifting platform," one filing says. "In the high sea state, the submersible sustained modest damage to its external components, and OceanGate decided to cancel the second mission for repairs and operational enhancements."
Arthur Loibl, a retired businessman from Germany, took a dive to the site two years ago.
“„Imagine a metal tube a few meters long with a sheet of metal for a floor. You can't stand it. You can't kneel. Everyone is sitting close to or on top of each other. You can't be claustrophobic.- Arthur Loibl
He added that during the 2.5-hour descent and ascent, the lights were switched off to save electricity, with only a fluorescent glow stick providing lighting.
The dive was frequently postponed in order to fix a problem with the batteries and balance weights. According to him, the journey took 10.5 hours in all.
Underwater Noises Were Heard For Two Days
On Tuesday and Wednesday, aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area, leading officials to refocus rescue efforts, according to Capt. Jamie Frederick, the First Coast Guard District response coordinator, at a news conference on Wednesday. The sounds were being studied by Navy acoustic specialists, he said.
"We don't know what they are," Frederick said. "The good news is, we’re searching in the area where the noises were detected." The search net covers a surface area roughly two times the size of Connecticut and 2.5 miles deep, he said.
Carl Hartsfield, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, stated at a press conference on Wednesday that the sounds have been described as "banging noises." He warned against leaping to conclusions and stated that sounds that aren't man-made may appear man-made to the inexperienced ear.
Who Is On The Passenger List Of The Submersible?
The passengers on the submersible were as follows:
- Stockton Rush, 61, is the CEO of OceanGate, which he co-founded in 2009.
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 73, is a French nautical explorer and the director of the Underwater Research Program of Premier Exhibitions, RMS Titanic Inc., the only firm with exclusive rights to retrieve Titanic relics.
- Hamish Harding, 58, is a British explorer, private jet dealer, and chairman of Action Aviation, a global business aviation sales organization.
- Shahzada Dawood, 48, comes from one of Pakistan's most powerful families.
- Suleman Dawood, the 19-year-old son of Shahzada Dawood.
Who Pays For Coast Guard Rescues?
According to Chris Boyer, executive director of the National Association for Search and Rescue, a nonprofit education, training, and advocacy organization, the cost of the search and rescue expedition is expected to be in the millions of dollars and will be borne by taxpayers.
He stated that the Coast Guard did not charge for search and rescue. "That’s their job," he said, stressing that cost concerns may dissuade patients from obtaining life-saving treatment.
While some adventure expeditions require consumers to purchase insurance, he claims that few would cover the expected costs of the rescue attempt. High-risk excursions, he says, have historically spurred intricate arguments about danger and rescue.
"I think it's going to become a larger issue for us. Because it's not just under the water. We now have private spaceships flying private astronauts into space," he said. "What happens when that private spaceship can't come back home?"
What Does The Inside Of The Missing Submersible Look Like?
According to the OceanGate website, the Titan submarinewas approximately 8 feet high, 9 feet wide, and 22 feet long. According to the manufacturer, it was supposed to reach 13,000 feet deep and cruise at 3 knots.
According to court documents, the vessel had a five-inch-thick carbon fiber and titanium hull and four 10-horsepower electric thrusters.
According to court pleadings, several external cameras provided a live picture of the outside, and passengers could access the camera feeds on a huge computer display or a hand-held tablet. Images on the website show people sitting on the floor with their legs crossed in the small, open room.
David Pogue, a science journalist, and CBS correspondent who boarded the submersible for a November article, told USA TODAY he was concerned about the vessel's safety. Pogue said:
“„There were parts of it that seemed to me to be less sophisticated than I was guessing. You drive it with a PlayStation video controller … some of the ballasts are old, rusty construction pipes. There were certain things that looked like cut corners.- David Pogue
Jump to
A Debris Field Discovered Early Thursday
Wife Of OceanGate CEO Descended From Titanic Victims
Pakistani Teen Was A Student In Scotland
Deep Ocean Salvage System Arrives For Search
Submersible Previously Had Battery Issues
Underwater Noises Were Heard For Two Days
Who Is On The Passenger List Of The Submersible?
Who Pays For Coast Guard Rescues?
What Does The Inside Of The Missing Submersible Look Like?
Camilo Wood
Author
Camilo Wood has over two decades of experience as a writer and journalist, specializing in finance and economics. With a degree in Economics and a background in financial research and analysis, Camilo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his writing.
Throughout his career, Camilo has contributed to numerous publications, covering a wide range of topics such as global economic trends, investment strategies, and market analysis. His articles are recognized for their insightful analysis and clear explanations, making complex financial concepts accessible to readers.
Camilo's experience includes working in roles related to financial reporting, analysis, and commentary, allowing him to provide readers with accurate and trustworthy information. His dedication to journalistic integrity and commitment to delivering high-quality content make him a trusted voice in the fields of finance and journalism.
Elisa Mueller
Reviewer
Elisa Mueller, a Kansas City native, grew up surrounded by the wonders of books and movies, inspired by her parents' passion for education and film.
She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where she spent a decade at Entertainment Weekly, visiting film sets worldwide.
With over 8 years in the entertainment industry, Elisa is a seasoned journalist and media analyst, holding a degree in Journalism from NYU. Her insightful critiques have been featured in prestigious publications, cementing her reputation for accuracy and depth.
Outside of work, she enjoys attending film festivals, painting, writing fiction, and studying numerology.
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