In a devastating turn of events, OceanGate Inc., the submersible operator, has confirmed the loss of all five individuals who were aboard a submersible that went missing near the wreckage of the Titanic. The company issued a solemn statement on Thursday, expressing their belief that CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood, Shahzada’s son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet have tragically been lost.
The search and rescue teams had been racing against time to locate the Titan deep-diving tourist submersible, which had limited oxygen, after it vanished in the vicinity of the Titanic wreckage. On June 20, 2023, efforts intensified as the underwater search expanded, and hopes of finding the crew alive remained despite concerns over the submersible’s oxygen supply.
The confirmation of the crew’s loss followed the discovery of a “debris field” near the Titanic wreck by an underwater robot engaged in the search for the missing submersible. The multinational mission had been tirelessly focused on locating the craft and its occupants, and the finding of the debris field marked a significant development in the operation.
The United States Coast Guard, part of the unified command overseeing the search, acknowledged the discovery of the debris field via a tweet. The tweet stated that experts within the unified command were assessing the information. The coast guard did not provide further specifics regarding the debris field but announced plans to hold a press briefing in Boston later on Thursday to share more updates on the situation.
