Photo: Madison Rogers (WBZ)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — All five people aboard the missing Titan submersible are believed to be dead, the U.S. Coast Guard and sea exploration company OceanGate Expeditions said Thursday.
"We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost," OceanGate said in a statement. "These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans," the statement continued. "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."
The Titan and its five people onboard went missing in the North Atlantic Ocean Sunday as it ran a trip to the wreck of the Titanic, prompting a massive search-and-rescue operation.
On Thursday, a debris field was found near the RMS Titanic during the search for the missing submersible.
Speaking at a press conference, the Coast Guard said the discovered debris was from the tail cone of the Titan, as well as additional debris from the outside of the ship.
"In consultation with experts from within the Unified Command, the debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber," said Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander of the First Coast Guard District. "Upon this determination, we immediately notified the families. On behalf of the United States Coast Guard and the entire Unified Command, I offer my deepest condolences to the families."
Mauger indicated that the banging noises heard on Tuesday were a dead end. He added that the remotely operated vehicles (ROV) which made the discovery of the debris will remain on scene.
This is an updating story.
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