Missing Titanic sub update - Debris confirms deaths as family reveals teen went on doomed trip for father

All five men on board the missing Titan submersible were declared dead after it was found that the craft imploded near the site of the shipwreck, authorities announced Thursday.

OceanGate Expeditions founder and CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman were all aboard the Titan.

Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron revealed that he received the information within 24 hours of the disappearance of the submersible that it had imploded when it lost communication with its mothership.

“We got confirmation within an hour that there had been a loud bang at the same time that the sub comms were lost,” Mr Cameron, who directed the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic, said.

His statement comes after Wall Street Journal reported that secret US Navy underwater microphones detected the Titan sub’s implosion several days ago.

The Navy used a top secret acoustic detection system to search for any sign of the OceanGate Expeditions submersible soon after it was reported missing on Sunday, a US Defence official said.

Key points

• James Cameron reveals he knew Titanic sub imploded on Monday

• Secret US Navy underwater microphones ‘detected Titan sub implosion’

• US Coast Guard announces death of five Titanic submersible crew members

• Family remembers ‘legend’ Hamish Harding, British billionaire who died in Titanic submarine accident

• Teen son of Pakistani billionaire who died on Titanic sub didn’t want to go on trip, aunt says

Tribute to victim’s “unparalleled” knowledge of Titanic wreck

14:10 , Holly Evans

President of the Titanic International Society Charles Haas paid tribute to Mr Nargeolet, saying his “consummate knowledge of the wreck and wreck site was unique and unparalleled”.

He added: “Commander Paul-Henri Nargeolet brought to this expedition more than a quarter-century of expertise, making more dives to Titanic’s wreck than anyone on earth.

“His willingness to share that information kept the world informed about Titanic’s deteriorating condition and helped to rewrite significant parts of the ship’s history. Sadly, that irreplaceable knowledge has been lost.”

President of Titanic society questions if trips to wreckage should end

13:45 , Holly Evans

In a statement published online, Charles Haas, president of the Titanic International Society, an organisation set up in 1989 to preserve the history of the Titanic, questioned whether visits to the historic site 3,800m below the surface should continue.

He said: “It is time to consider seriously whether human trips to Titanic’s wreck should end in the name of safety, with relatively little remaining to be learned from or about the wreck.

“Crewed submersibles’ roles in surveying the wreck now can be assigned to autonomous underwater vehicles, like those that mapped the ship and its debris field in high-resolution, 3-D detail last summer.

“The world joins us in expressing our profound sadness and heartbreak about this tragic, avoidable event.”

‘Titanic’ director says he is ‘struck’ by similarities to Titanic disaster

13:01 , Graeme Massie

Titanic director James Cameron told ABC News he is “struck” by the similarities between the Titanic disaster and the Titan disaster, and warned people not to take deep submersion diving lightly.

It is absolutely critical for people to really get the take-home message from this, from our effort here is deep submersion diving is a mature art,” Mr Cameron said.

The filmmaker said he has been to the Titanic wreckage many times.

Mr Cameron added that he found the similarities between the two tragedies ironic.

“I am struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about the ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into the ice field,” Mr Cameron said.

Prime Minister’s thoughts are “very much with the loved ones” of five victims

12:53 , Holly Evans

Downing Street has said that Rishi Sunak’s thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims of the missing Titan submersible, which is believed to have imploded while attempting to visit the Titanic wreckage.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “His thoughts are very much with the loved ones of those who have died in this tragic incident and they have been through an unimaginably difficult ordeal in the last few days.

“FCDO are in touch with those families to provide support.”

Where is the debris field and what has been found?

12:50 , Holly Evans

The hunt for the missing OceanGate Expeditions submersible the Titan ended in tragedy on Thursday when, hours after the craft exhausted its 96-hour oxygen supply, the US Coast Guard revealed that parts of the vessel had been found on the seabed.

That indicated a “catastrophic implosion” had likely occurred at some point since the sub’s disappearance on Sunday afternoon, which would have killed all five people on board.

At least three of the crew were fee-paying tourists being taken to tour the disintegrating wreck of the doomed ocean liner the Titanic, which sank in 1912 at the cost of 1,500 lives and whose final resting place was only discovered in 1985.

Joe Sommerlad has more.

Where is the Titan sub debris field and what has been found?

Watch: Moment OceanGate co-founder told debris from Titan submersible has been discovered

12:32 , Holly Evans

The co-founder of OceanGate learned that debris from the Titan submersible had been discovered during a TV interview.

Moment OceanGate co-founder told debris from Titan submersible has been discovered

OceanGate co-founder who left in 2019 says regulations around Titanic dives are ‘sparse’

12:02 , Holly Evans

The co-founder of OceanGate has said regulations around Titanic wreck dives are “sparse” and “antiquated”.

OceanGate co-founder says regulations around Titanic dives are ‘antiquated’

Titanic sub likely imploded ‘hours’ before search launched, Coast Guard says

12:01 , Graeme Massie

The Titanic sub that was lost with five passengers aboard near the wreck of the famed liner likely imploded hours before a massive search and rescue was even launched, says the US Coast Guard.

OceanGate Expedition’s Titan submersible began its journey to the wreck site, which sits at a depth of 12,500 in the Atlantic Ocean, on Sunday morning. About an hour and 45 minutes later, the Titan lost contact with its surface ship, the Polar Prince.

Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard said on Thursday that Titan had suffered a “catastrophic loss” of its pressure chamber, leading to the deaths of everyone inside it.

“Right now it is too early to tell with that,” he said when asked if the Coast Guard could give a specific time on the sub’s fatal implosion.

Graeme Massie reports:

Titanic sub likely imploded ‘hours’ before search launched, Coast Guard says

James Cameron filmed a sub implosion scene for his film 'The Abyss'

11:53 , Holly Evans

Titanic director James Cameron has been speaking out about the OceanGate sub-disaster which was confirmed to have suffered a “catastrophic implosion” when venturing down to see the famous wreckage.

Cameron is a veteran of deep-sea sub diving having visited the Titanic location numerous times and ventured even deeper into the ocean when he went down to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth.

Speaking to ABC News on Thursday, the Canadian director drew eerie comparisons to the OceanGate disaster and the Titanic while adding that concerns had been raised in the engineering community about the vessel, which ultimately claimed the lives of five people.

Greg Evans has more.

James Cameron filmed an sub implosion scene for his film 'The Abyss'

British Asian Trust pay tribute to “wonderful” supporter Shahzada Dawood

11:35 , Holly Evans

The British Asian Trust has paid tribute to its “wonderful and generous” supporter Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman.

In a statement on Twitter, the trust said: “Shahzada was a wonderful and generous man who supported our work in South Asia for many years, while his son was just emerging into adulthood with a promising future ahead.”

The trust added that its “hearts and prayers” are with the family and friends of the two men at an “unimaginable time of grief and loss”.

“Our deepest condolences to them and everyone else who lost loved ones in this terrible incident.”

OceanGate CEO admitted ‘breaking rules’ in video

11:03 , Graeme Massie

“I have broken some rules to make this...The carbon fibre and titanium there is a rule that you don’t do that. Well, I did,” Stockton Rush, one of the five who lost his life in the Titan sub implosion, said in a video.

“I think it was General MacArthur said that you’re remembered for the rules you break. And, you know, I’ve broken some rules to make this. I think I’ve broken them with logic and good engineering behind me. The carbon fibre and titanium there is a rule that you don’t do that. Well, I did.”

Watch: James Cameron likens Titan submersible tragedy to Titanic sinking

11:02 , Holly Evans

The Oscar-winning Hollywood filmmaker spoke to ABC News after it was confirmed that five people on board the vessel died after going missing on a dive to the shipwreck.

James Cameron likens Titan submersible tragedy to Titanic sinking

Regulations for submersibles “written in blood”

10:53 , Holly Evans

William Kohnen, chairman of the Manned Underwater Vehicles Committee, said the regulations for building submersible vessels were “written in blood”.

Mr Kohnen’s organisation, based in Los Angeles in the US, raised safety concerns in 2018 about OceanGate’s development of Titan.

He suggested the company was “not willing to undergo the standard certification process which we all do in the submarine industry” via a third party “double check” system.

The committee warned at the time that the development decisions could have “negative outcomes from minor to catastrophic that could have serious consequences”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Kohnen said: “We’re only smart because we remember what we wrote and what we did wrong last time.

“The rules are written in blood – it is in there because it caused trouble before, and to say: ‘Well I think we’re just going to ignore that and go on our own way,’ suggests there might be a bit of input of wisdom that this might not be the best decision.”

It comes after Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of OceanGate Expeditions, told the same programme that the Titan had undergone 14 years of “rigorous” and “robust” checks during development.

Explosion likely caused by “instability” says expert

10:20 , Holly Evans

Chairman of the US-based Manned Underwater Vehicles Committee, William Kohnen, said the implosion of the Titan submersible was likely caused by “instability”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Kohnen said: “Clearly, something disturbed the pressure hull.

“If you’ve ever held a balloon and it just pops, if you just hold it lightly… something happened.

“An implosion is just a reverse explosion, so it exploded inwards.”

Who is Stockton Rush? The OceanGate CEO killed in Titanic tourist submarine

10:08 , Graeme Massie

Princeton graduate and Titan submarine entrepreneur insisted Atlantic dives were not dangerous and once said: ‘At some point, safety just is pure waste. If you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed’.

Who is Stockton Rush? The OceanGate CEO killed in Titanic tourist submarine

University pay tribute to teenager killed on Titan sub

10:00 , Holly Evans

The University of Strathclyde has paid tribute to student Suleman Dawood, who died on board the Titan submersible.

The university said: “The staff and students of Strathclyde have been shocked and profoundly saddened by the death of Suleman Dawood and his father in this tragic incident.

“The entire university community offers our deepest condolences to the Dawood family and all of those affected by this terrible accident.

“Our student wellbeing team is on hand to offer appropriate support to Suleman’s Strathclyde classmates and the wider community at this difficult time.”

What parts of the sub have been discovered?

09:40 , Holly Evans

After four days of searching, a major update was announced on Thursday when the US Coast Guard discovered a “debris field” near the Titanic shipwreck.

A remotely operated underwater vehicle on the sea floor made the breakthrough while exploring the area where the submersible had last made contact with its mother ship.

The US Coast Guard confirmed that the tail cone of the deep-sea vessel was discovered around 1,600 ft from the bow of Titanic.

Undersea expert Paul Hankins said this was the initial piece of Titan found, before the discovery of a larger debris field. The front end of the pressure hull was located before a second “smaller debris field” was also found with the other end of the pressure hull.

During an interview with Sky News, renowned deep-sea scientist David Mearns aid he had received a Whatsapp message suggesting that the rear cover and landing frame had been found.

Engro Corporation pay tribute to its Vice Chairman Shahzada Dawood

09:27 , Holly Evans

Tributes have flooded in for British businessman Shahzada Dawood and his “beloved” son Suleman, who were part of one of Pakistan’s richest families.

Mr Dawood was vice-chairman of Pakistani conglomerate Engro Corporation, which is a large fertiliser firm and worked with his family’s Dawood Foundation, as well as the SETI Institute, a California-based research organisation which searches for extra-terrestrial life.

In a statement, Engro Corporation said: “With heavy hears and great sadness, we grieve the loss of our Vice Chairman, Shahzada Dawood, and his beloved son, Suleman Dawood.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dawood family at this tragic time.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and all those around the world who grieve this unthinkable loss.”

OceanGate co-founder says the Titan sub wasn’t used to conduct “joyrides” to the wreckage site

09:10 , Holly Evans

Co-founder of Titan’s parent company, OceanGate Expeditions, Guillermo Sohnlein, insisted his goal is not to conduct “joyrides” down to the wreck of the Titanic.

He told Times Radio: “That would be a great question for Mr (James) Cameron as he’s been down there 30 times and I’m sure, not to put words in his mouth, he would probably say the same thing that I would and what Stockton (Rush) would, is that the intent of all of these missions is not to conduct joyrides down to this wreck.

“Everyone who goes down there has extreme reverence for the wreck as a grave site and, if anything, everyone who goes down there is going there to preserve the memories and to document the grave site itself.”

He continued: “The ocean’s a massive, massive environment.

“Stockton and I used to commiserate about the fact as explorers it provides a fertile ground for exploration because you could drop a sub almost anywhere in the ocean and you’re almost assured of being the first humans to ever set eyes on it.

“The Titanic itself has a kind of mystical kind of draw to it because of the reverence with which everyone has viewed that wreck over the last century since it sank.”

‘I was wowed’: Why adventurers flocked to take OceanGate’s $250k Titanic expedition – before tragedy hit

09:05 , Graeme Massie

OceanGate, whose submersible vessel Titan carrying five crew members suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion, in the North Atlantic, has offered tours to the famous shipwreck site since 2021.

Why adventurers flocked to OceanGate’s $250k Titantic expedition before tragedy hit

Family of Hamish Harding criticise Cambridge uni “submarine-themed ball"

09:04 , Holly Evans

The family of British billionaire businessman Hamish Harding has lashed out at a Cambridge college for hosting a “submarine-themed ball” just hours before those on the Titan submersible were confirmed dead.

Pembroke College students attended the “Into the Depths” ball on Wednesday night, based on the theme of undersea exploration, amid all the rescue efforts for the now imploded Titan submarine.

One of the cousins of Harding, 69-year-old Kathleen Cosnett, told the media that it was “unbelievable” that the college had a submarine-themed ball and said the event was in “extremely bad taste”.

Maroosha Muzaffar has more.

Titan billionaire’s cousin lashes out at ‘submarine themed ball’ at Cambridge college

Submarine implosion videos viewed by millions

08:59 , Holly Evans

Educational videos of a submarine imploding have racked up millions of views on TikTok amid the search for the missing Titanic submersible in the Atlantic Ocean where ‘debris’ was uncovered with officials announcing those aboard have died following a ‘catastrophic implosion.’

On Thursday, the US Coastguard confirmed that a “debris field” has been discovered within the search area for the missing submersible Titan by a remotely-operated vehicle near the wreckage of the Titanic.

Greg Evans has more.

'Submarine implosion' videos viewed by millions after Titanic sub's 'catastrophic' disaster

Watch: What happened to OceanGate’s Titan submersible?

08:41 , Holly Evans

Titanic submarine: What happened to OceanGate’s Titan submersible?

OceanGate co-founder says it is “tricky” to navigate current regulations

08:37 , Holly Evans

Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of OceanGate Exploration, the parent company of the Titan submersible, explained it is “tricky to navigate” the current regulations on submersibles.

He told Times Radio: “It’s too early to tell, there’s data that’s going to have to be collected over the coming days, weeks and months, and I’m sure the team will work with whoever is conducting the investigations to cooperate and provide as much information as possible.

“At that point, we’ll be in a better position to tell (what went wrong).”

When asked about the regulations surrounding submersibles, he said: “There are regulations in place but as you can imagine there aren’t many subs that go that deep, so the regulations are pretty sparse and many of them are antiquated and designed for specific instances.

“It’s tricky to navigate those regulatory schemes.”

What we know about doomed Titanic sub

08:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

It was due to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, travelling to the ocean floor and the chance to view what few people have ever done – the 111-year-old wreck of the Titanic.

A British billionaire explorer, a Pakistani-British father and son, a French diver and the chief executive of the submersible tourist company boarded the OceanGate Expedition’s submersible, the Titan, full of a spirit of adventure and excitement.

But, in a chilling echo of the fate of the doomed 1912 vessel, soon after setting out, the expedition took a dramatic turn.

More here.

What we know about fated Titanic tourist submersible

Teenager Suleman Dawood 'had a sense' Titan expedition 'was not okay', aunt says

08:26 , Holly Evans

Suleman Dawood, who was a student in Glasgow, was “terrified” of making the dive down to the Titanic but did so as it was Father’s Day.

Titanic director felt ‘in his bones’ tourist submersible was lost

08:20 , Holly Evans

James Cameron, who directed the 1997 film Titanic, has said he felt the loss of the Titan submersible “in my bones”.

The legendary Hollywood filmmaker has himself completed 33 dives to the famous shipwreck.

“I immediately got on the phone to some of my contacts in the deep submersible community,” Cameron recalled of the moment he heard about the news.

Oliver Browning has more.

Titanic director James Cameron felt ‘in his bones’ tourist submersible was lost

Submarine captain says lessons need to be learned

08:09 , Holly Evans

When asked about the safety of the Titan submersible, former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey explained that lessons need to be learned and questions need to be answered.

He said: “That’s the question that needs to be answered. Most submersibles and all submarines go through a stringent safety process.

“Every time they come back in and every time before they go to sea they do safety checks, check the safety of the hull, state of the hull openings, everything.

“What’s apparent here is they didn’t have to follow the same regulation, and therefore didn’t follow the same regulation. I think that will be where a big focus is.

“That doesn’t mean blame, that’s not what we should be doing, what we should be doing is what’s called adjust culture, where we work out lessons learned and implement them going forward.”

“Only positive is that it was instantaneous"

07:59 , Holly Evans

Former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey has explained the possible reasons for the Titan submersible to implode on its descent to the Titanic wreckage.

He told PA news agency: “I think I said in one of my early interviews that there were probably two outcomes for this which is one, it’s lost communications and gone down to the bottom, and it’s stuck on the bottom.

“The other one is that it lost communications and then suffered a catastrophic failure and imploded, which is what looks to be what happened.

“I think either one of two things has happened.

“Either the hatch with the 17 bolts they used to seal them in has had a failure, which has then caused the hull to collapse at pressure because there’s huge amounts of pressure, even halfway down, or the pressure hull itself had a defect in it when they sailed and that’s fractured from the pressure, and caused the same result.

“The only positive out of it is that it was instantaneous and they didn’t know anything.”

Where is the Titanic wreck – and how far down is it?

07:56 , Graeme Massie

The wreck’s location is approximately 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Where is the Titanic wreck – and how far down is it?

Rescue operation changed to a salvage mission

07:46 , Holly Evans

In a statement, the Canadian Armed Forces said: “The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the Canadian Armed Forces offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the crew of the Titan for their tragic loss.

“This is a truly unfortunate outcome that concludes the great efforts and cooperation between countries, militaries and partners.

“As this operation is transitioning to recovery and salvage, MRCC Boston no longer requires rescue services.

“All JRCC rescue assets will return to base to regenerate search and rescue capability and prepare for future search and rescue events. The extent of Canadian assistance with recovery and salvage is currently being discussed.”

Bodies may never be recovered, says coast guard

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The bodies of the five passengers aboard the Titanic sub that was lost in a “catastrophic implosion” near the wreck may never be recovered from the Atlantic, said the US Coast Guard.

The pressure chamber of the OceanGate Titan was found among other debris, approximately 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor by a remote operated vehicle (ROV) yesterday.

“This is an incredibly unforgiving environment out there on the sea floor. The debris is consistent with the catastrophic implosion of the vessel. We will continue to work and search the area down there but I don’t have an answer on prospects at this time,” said Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard.

Graeme Massie has more.

Bodies of missing Titanic sub passengers may never be recovered, Coast Guard says

Teenager who died on Titanic sub was ‘terrified’ but went because it was Father’s Day

07:21 , Holly Evans

The son of a Pakistani businessman who is now presumed dead along with his father after their Titanic tour submersible imploded was terrified of the expedition, his aunt has revealed.

The US Coast Guard announced during a Thursday press conference that the missing Titan’s pressure chamber was found among other debris, approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the ocean floor.

In a statement to The Independent, OceanGate — the private company that operated the $250,000-a-seat expedition — confirmed that the five passengers aboard the vessel are now believed dead.

Andrea Blanco has more.

Teenager who died on Titanic sub was ‘terrified’ but went because it was Father’s Day

Whistleblowers warned OceanGate safety issues could prove ‘catastrophic’. Then its Titanic sub imploded

07:10 , Graeme Massie

A top employee raised safety concerns five years before the vessel’s catastrophic implosion.

Inside OceanGate’s history of safety issues as officials confirm Titanic sub imploded

Relatives of Titanic victims criticise dark tourism of submersible tours

06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Missing Titanic submarine: Timeline of how the deep-sea tragedy unfolded

06:03 , Graeme Massie

Five crew members are presumed to be dead after the Titan submarine suffered a ‘catastrophic explosion’ - this is how it all unfolded.

What happened to the Titanic submarine? A timeline of events

James Cameron says ‘unheeded warnings’ behind Titanic and Titan tragedies

05:35 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron says both the Titanic and the Titan incidents were preceded by unheeded warnings.

In the Titanic’s case, the captain sped across the Atlantic on a moonless night despite being told about icebergs.

“Here were are again,” Mr Cameron said. “And at the same place. Now there’s one wreck lying next to the other wreck for the same damn reason.”

Pakistani businessman survived ‘plane plunge’ in 2019, says wife

05:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Pakistan-born businessman Shahzada Dawood who was one of the five people on board the Titan submersible, reportedly survived a flight plunge so horrific that it had him fearing for his life, his wife revealed.

The 48-year-old British national and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, were on the submersible that imploded underwater, killing them.I

n a blog post, Dawood’s wife Christine, recalled surviving a flight alongside her husband that left her frozen with “absolute terror”.

“I should have known when they canceled our flight and put us on the next one. We should have taken the sign, gone back home and had a long and generous breakfast. But we didn’t,” she said in the post, dated 22 January 2019.

Describing her experience, Christine wrote that passengers let out “... one simultaneous cry, which turned to a whimper and then silence”.

That was the first of multiple violent plunges that left her feeling “like a grain in a big bag of sand, or a boxer being soundly defeated—punched from all directions”.

“I clutched my armrests, as if that would make a difference,” she said, adding: “I needed something to hold on to, something stable in a shaky metal tube thousands of feet above the ground.”

A British billionaire, father and son and renowned diver: Who was on the Titanic submarine?

05:06 , Graeme Massie

Coast Guard offers deepest condolences to families of those on board submersible that imploded, including three British citizens.

Who was on the missing Titanic submarine?

James Cameron reveals he knew Titanic sub imploded on Monday

05:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron said he received the information within 24 hours of the disappearance of the submersible Titan that it had imploded when it lost communication with its mothership.

“We got confirmation within an hour that there had been a loud bang at the same time that the sub comms were lost,” Mr Cameron, who directed the 1997 movie Titanic, said.

“A loud bang on the hydrophone. Loss of transponder. Loss of comms. I knew what happened. The sub imploded,” he said, adding that he told colleagues in an email on Monday, “We’ve lost some friends,” and, “It’s on the bottom in pieces right now”.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.

James Cameron reveals he knew Titanic sub had imploded on Monday

OceanGate, company behind Titanic tourist sub, got $450,000 in Covid pandemic aid, report says

04:05 , Graeme Massie

CEO and founder Stockton Rush presumed dead along with four others who paid $250,000 per seat.

OceanGate got $450,000 in Covid pandemic aid, report says

Who is Shahzada Dawood? The Pakistani businessman who died on Titanic submarine with teenage son

03:34 , Graeme Massie

US Coast Guard said debris of Titan sub found near wreck of liner after it suffered ‘Catastrophic implosion’.

Who is Shahzada Dawood? Pakistani businessman lost in Titanic sub with teen son

Why did the Titanic sub implode?

03:01 , Graeme Massie

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and four paying passengers presumed dead after debris found near the wreck.

Why did the Titanic sub implode?

‘Titanic’ director James Cameron appears to blame OceanGate CEO for sub disaster

02:00 , Ariana Baio

James Cameron, director of the blockbuster Titanic and a deep-sea submersible designer himself, likened the Titan tragedy in which five people died this week to the sinking of the ill-fated ocean liner because of the safety warnings both received prior to their disasters.

He told ABC News that the wider submersible engineering community had been specifically concerned about the OceanGate Expeditions vehicle, the Titan before it went missing on Sunday.

Oliver O’Connell reports:

James Cameron compares OceanGate tragedy to Titanic captain ignoring ice warnings

Suleman Dawood the student in Glasgow

01:32 , Graeme Massie

Suleman Dawood, 19, died alongside his father, Shahzada Dawood on the Titan submersible during an expedition to the Titanic wreckage.

Suleman was a student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow who was “big fan of science fiction literature and learning new things”, with an interest in Rubik’s Cube and playing volleyball, according to his family.

Who is Stockton Rush? The OceanGate CEO killed in Titanic tourist submarine

01:02 , Graeme Massie

Princeton graduate and Titan submarine entrepreneur insisted Atlantic dives were not dangerous and once said: ‘At some point, safety just is pure waste. If you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed’.

Who is Stockton Rush? The OceanGate CEO killed in Titanic tourist submarine

Whistleblowers warned OceanGate safety issues could prove ‘catastrophic’. Then its Titanic sub imploded

Friday 23 June 2023 00:44 , Graeme Massie

A top employee raised safety concerns five years before the vessel’s catastrophic implosion.

Inside OceanGate’s history of safety issues as officials confirm Titanic sub imploded

Shahzada Dawood the Pakistani businessman

Friday 23 June 2023 00:30 , Graeme Massie

Shahzada Dawood, 48, was a Pakistani businessman who lived in Britain.

Mr Dawood died while on the Titan submersible along with his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood.

In a statement seen by the BBC, the family described Mr Dawood as “a loving father.”

“Shahzada is a loving father to Suleman and Alina, husband to Christine, brother to three siblings, and son to Hussain & Kulsum Dawood. His 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood, is currently a university student,” the statement said.

“Shahzada has been actively advocating a culture of learning, sustainability, and diversity in his capacity as Vice Chairman of Pakistan’s Engro Corporation. Passionate about social impact, he works extensively with the Engro Foundation, The Dawood Foundation, the SETI Institute, and Prince’s Trust International.”

Family remembers ‘legend’ Hamish Harding, British billionaire who died in Titanic submarine accident

Thursday 22 June 2023 23:44 , Graeme Massie

The explorer is among the five people who died on a failed expedition to see the wreck in the Atlantic.

Family remembers ‘legend’ Hamish Harding, British billionaire who died in Titanic sub

Secret US Navy underwater microphones ‘detected Titan sub implosion’

Thursday 22 June 2023 23:25 , Graeme Massie

Acoustic detectors used to track enemy submarines picked up the fatal blast.

Secret US Navy underwater microphones ‘detected Titan sub implosion’

‘I was wowed’: Why adventurers flocked to take OceanGate’s $250k Titanic expedition – before tragedy hit

Thursday 22 June 2023 23:16 , Graeme Massie

OceanGate, whose submersible vessel Titan carrying five crew members suffered a ‘catastrophic implosion, in the North Atlantic, has offered tours to the famous shipwreck site since 2021. Bevan Hurley writes.

Why adventurers flocked to OceanGate’s $250k Titantic expedition before tragedy hit

Teen son of Pakistani billionaire who died on Titanic sub didn’t want to go on trip, aunt says

Thursday 22 June 2023 22:58 , Graeme Massie

Azmeh Dawood told NBC News that her nephew only agreed to go on the expedition because it was important to his father.

Teen son of Pakistani billionaire who died on Titanic sub ‘didn’t want to go on trip’

OceanGate releases official statement

Thursday 22 June 2023 22:45 , Ariana Baio

OceanGate Expeditions, the company that launched the Titan submersible, released a statement following the US Coast Guard’s press conference where they announced the five passengers had died.

”This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea,” they said.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet the experienced diver and Titanic expert

Thursday 22 June 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio

Paul-Henri Nargeolet, an experienced French diver and Titanic connoisseur, died while aboard the Titan submersible.

Mr Nargeolet, 77, is the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic Inc – a company that conducts expeditions of the Titanic wreckage and displays artifacts.

Over the course of his career, Mr Nargeolet completed 35 dives to the Titanic wreckage. His knowledge and pursuit of the Titanic earned him the nickname “Mr Titanic”.

Born in Chamonix, France, Mr Nargeolet began as an amateur diver before joining the French Navy.

Mr Nargeolet’s daughter, Sidonie Nargeolet, told Reuters that she’s lived with a lot of mixed emotions about her father missing but knows he was doing what he was most passionate about.

“What he liked the most was to be in a submarine, (near) the Titanic. He is where he really loved being. I would prefer him (dying) at a place where he is very happy,” she said.

Why we’re so invested in the missing Titanic submarine, according to psychologists

Thursday 22 June 2023 22:15 , Graeme Massie

The search for the submersible captured the attention of millions, as phrases such as “Titan” and hashtags like #OceanGate dominated Twitter’s top trending and TikTok For You Pages. According to Dr Justin D’Arienzo – a clinical psychologist in Jacksonville, Florida and former US Navy psychologist – the reason the public has been so invested is down to our desire to relate to others that sustains our obsession.

“We all can relate to that feeling of being trapped somewhere or being in the water or experiencing that level of uncertainty,” he tells The Independent. “What makes it so relatable is that we all could imagine being helpless with other humans and not know what to do.”

Meredith Clark reports:

Why we’re so invested in the missing Titanic submarine, according to psychologists

WATCH: Coast Guards explain prospects of recovering the bodies of Titan crew

Thursday 22 June 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Hamish Harding, the adventurer and billionaire

Thursday 22 June 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

Hamish Harding, a well-versed adventurer and Britsh billionaire died at 58 years old while aboard the Titan submersible.

Mr Harding, a graduate of the University of Cambridge, served as chairman of Action Aviation.

He held three Guinness World Records– the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via both poles by plane, greatest distance covered at full ocean depth and the greatest duration spent at full ocean depth.

In 2019, Mr Harding led a team of pilots and astronauts to achieve the first record in 46 hours, 40 minutes and 22 seconds. This was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, according to the Living Legends of Aviation.

Mr Harding had made more than one trip to the South Pole.

Stockton Rush, the CEO and founder of OceanGate

Thursday 22 June 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Among those tragically killed while aboard the Titan submersible is the CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions, Stockton Rush.

Mr Rush, 61, was an experienced pilot and graduate of Princeton University and Berkeley Haas School of Business.

He began his career as a pilot, qualifying from the United Airlines Jet Training Institute in 1981 at the age of 19 and serving as a DC-8 first officer on flights to Europe and the Middle East during his summers between college.

In the year he left UC Berkeley, he personally built a Glasair III experimental aircraft, which he still owns and flies, and subsequently constructed a heavily-modified Kittredge K-350 two-man submarine, in which he has conducted more than 30 dives.

Mr Rush started OceanGate in 2009 with the intention of helping scientists and researchers explore the ocean floor.

Mr Rush indicated he was willing to break boundaries with new vessels that could take people further than they had been before.

Bodies of missing Titanic sub passengers may never be recovered, Coast Guard says

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:45 , Ariana Baio

The bodies of the five passengers aboard the Titanic sub that was lost in a “catastrophic implosion” near the wreck may never be recovered from the floor of the Atlantic, says the US Coast Guard.

“This is an incredibly unforgiving environment out there on the sea floor. The debris is consistent with the catastrophic implosion of the vessel. We will continue to work and search the area down there but I don’t have an answer on prospects at this time,” said Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard says that ROVs will remain in place but that it will begin to pull back equipment over the next 48 hours.

The Rear Admiral said that sonar buoys had been in the water for the past 72 hours and that they had not picked up any evidence of an implosion, suggesting that it had happened early on in the dive.

Graeme Massie reports:

Bodies of missing Titanic sub passengers may never be recovered, Coast Guard says

Unclear when implosion occurred

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:25 , Ariana Baio

The US Coast Guard said they were unsure when exactly the Titan submersible imploded but that sonar buoys would have likely picked up the sound if they had been in place.

Location of debris was 1600 feet from Titanic

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:15 , Ariana Baio

In the press conference on Thursday, the US Coast Guard said the debris from the Titan submersible was found approximately 1600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor.

The depth of the Titan debris was about 12,500 feet .

Carl Hartsfield, an expert with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said that the debris was found in an area where there was no Titanic wreckage.

Mr Hartsfield said: “There is no Titanic wreckage in that area.”

Watch live: US Coast Guard gives update on missing Titanic submersible after debris found

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:11 , Ariana Baio

Watch live: US Coast guard gives update on Titanic submersible as debris found

WATCH: US Coast Guard announces death of five Titanic submersible crew members

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:10 , Ariana Baio

US Coast Guard found pressure chamber in debris

Thursday 22 June 2023 20:05 , Ariana Baio

Among the debris found on the sea floor by the US Coast Guard was the pressure chamber of the missing Titan submersible.

Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard said the pressure chamber was found among other debris, approximately 1600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor by an ROV on Thursday.

“In consultation with experts from within the unified command the debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” Rear Admiral Mauger said.

Because of this, the US Coast Guard is assuming the five passengers on the Titan are deceased.

OceanGate releases statement believing five passengers are ‘sadly lost’

Thursday 22 June 2023 19:52 , Ariana Baio

In a statement obtained by CNN, OceanGate said: “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.”

“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.”

“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.”

Debris found near Titanic wreckage could be from previous Titan dive

Thursday 22 June 2023 19:29 , Ariana Baio

The key components of the missing submersible that were claimed to be found in the debris field, could have been from a previous Titan dive a message seen by The Independent indicates.

Trevor Hale, a spokesperson for the Explorers Club told The Independent that the message that Explorers Club president Richard Garriot sent to others in a group was misrepresented.

The “landing frame” and “rear cover” of the submersible found could have been from a previous dive.

In his message, Mr Garriot wrote: “We understand debris has been found which may be the landing frame and a rear cover of the tail instrument compartment of the Titan lost on previous dives. We hear there may be additional debris, but no updated visuals of the submersible.”

Daughter of French pilot on Titanic sub says if he died he would be ‘where he loved’

Thursday 22 June 2023 19:15 , Ariana Baio

The daughter of one of the five people inside the submersible missing near the wreck of the Titanic said she continued to hope they would be rescued but that she is comforted by the knowledge that her father, oceanographer Henri Nargeolet, is in the place he loved most.

Sidonie Nargeolet said she was living with “a lot of stress, very mixed emotions” as the desperate search for the missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic entered a critical phase when air was expected to run out for the five people aboard.

Jane Dalton reports:

Daughter of French pilot on Titanic sub says if he died he would be ‘where he loved’

OceanGate Inc received nearly half a million in federal PPP loan

Thursday 22 June 2023 19:05 , Ariana Baio

OceanGate Inc, the company that owns and operates OceanGate Expeditions, allegedly received $447,000 from the US Government’s Payment Protection Program (PPP) in 2020.

According to ProPublica’s public tracking of PPP loans, OceanGate Inc received the money to pay their 22 reported staff members during the pandemic.

The government’s loan program was meant to help companies continue to keep their workforce employed during the pandemic.

Approximately $450,074 of that loan was forgiven.

Unconfirmed report claims landing frame of sub is among debris field

Thursday 22 June 2023 18:31 , Ariana Baio

David Mearns, a rescue expert and friend of Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, told Sky News that the “debris field” allegedly includes the “landing frame and rear cover” from the missing submersible.

Mr Mearns said he is in a WhatsApp group that involves members of The Explorers Club.

He claims that the president of the Explorers Club (which the website lists as Richard Garriot) is allegedly in direct contact with the vessels at the search site and told the WhatsApp group rescuers found the “landing frame” and “rear cover.”

Mr Mearns said: “This is an unconventional submarine, that rear over is the pointy end of it and the landing frame is the little frame that it seems to sit on.”

“If the faring is off and the frame is off then something really bad has happened to the entire structure,” he claimed.

The Coast Guard and other officials have not confirmed this yet. They are expected to hold a press conference at 3pm EST.

Daughter of passenger on Titan submersible speaks out

Thursday 22 June 2023 18:15 , Ariana Baio

Sidonie Nargeolet, the daughter of renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet told Reuters that she’s lived with a lot of mixed emotions about her father missing but knows he was doing what he was most passionate about.

“If they are not found, it will be very sad for us because we will not see him again,” Ms Nargeolet, 39, said.

Ms Nargeolet said at times she has a lot of hope that her father and the five other passengers will be found but as time goes on it becomes more difficult.

She said: “What he liked the most was to be in a submarine, (near) the Titanic. He is where he really loved being. I would prefer him (dying) at a place where he is very happy.”

Missing Titanic sub was low-tech on purpose to save money, subcontractor says

Thursday 22 June 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Doug Virnig, who helped develop the Titan, told CNN that OceanGate used off-the-shelf technology such as a Logitech video game controller, to save on research and development costs.

“It seems kind of cheesy, but if you knew the amount of technology that was packed in that controller and its capabilities, and the amount of money that it costs to develop something like that, it’s just off the charts,” he told the news network of the $29.99 controller.

Graeme Massie reports:

Missing Titanic sub was low-tech on purpose to save money, subcontractor says

What is an ROV?

Thursday 22 June 2023 17:25 , Ariana Baio

The US Coast Guard announced on Thursday morning that an ROV, or remotely-operated vehicle, discovered a “debris field” near the Titanic wreckage in the search for the missing submersible.

ROVs are “unoccupied, highly maneuverable underwater machines” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They can be operated by a person at the surface of the water.

“While using ROVs eliminates the ‘human presence’ in the water, in most cases, ROV operations are simpler and safer to conduct than any type of occupied-submersible or diving operation because operators can stay safe (and dry!) on ship decks,” NOAA says on their website.

The ROV which found the debris field was on the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctics.

Coast Guard will hold press briefing at 3pm EST

Thursday 22 June 2023 17:10 , Ariana Baio

Rear Admiral John Mauger and Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard will host a press briefing at 3pm EST (8pm UK Time) to discuss updates in the search for the missing submersible as well as the news that a “debris field” was found near the Titanic wreckage.

The debris field was apparently found by the Horizon Arctics ROV on the sea floor.

‘Debris field’ found near Titanic wreckage

Thursday 22 June 2023 16:53 , Ariana Baio

The US Coast Guard said a “debris field” was discovered in the search area near the Titanic wreckage on Thursday morning.

In a tweet, the Coast Guard said an ROV (remote operated vehicle) discovered the “debris field” while searching the designated area for the missing submersible.

“Experts within the unified command are evaluating the information,” The Coast Guard wrote.

OceanGate co-founder says passengers have more time than people think

Thursday 22 June 2023 16:38 , Ariana Baio

OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Söhnlein believes the people aboard the missing Titan submersible have more time than people think.

Mr Söhnlein told CNN that the crew members aboard the sub, including his colleague and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, would have "realized days ago that the best thing they can do to ensure their rescue is to extend the limits of those supplies by relaxing as much as possible."

Based on the crew member’s expertise the “window available” for the suspected rescue time is longer than “what most people think.”

Mr Söhnlein said he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the company OceanGate.

He added that Thursday will be a “critical day in this search and rescue mission.”

When will rescue crews stop searching for the missing Titanic sub?

Thursday 22 June 2023 16:15 , Ariana Baio

Oxygen on the missing Titanic tourist submersible was expected to run out on Thursday morning - leaving many wondering if the US Coast Guard will cease their search and rescue efforts.

Typically, when a person, or people, are lost at sea the Coast Guard appoints a mission coordinator to run a search and rescue operation. However, when there is no chance that person is alive or able to be retrieved they will call off the mission.

At the moment, the US Coast Guard is still conducting its search and rescue operation for the five people aboard a 22-foot-long submersible.

“We continue to keep the crew members and the families in our thoughts as we proceed with this search and rescue while we’re cognisant of the time and we’ve factored in a lot of data and information into the search,” Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard told Sky News.

He added: “This is still an active search and rescue at this point and we’re using the equipment that we have on the bottom right now, the remote operated vehicles (ROVs) to expand our search capability, and then also to provide rescue capability as well.”

Donald Trump Jr baselessly suggests conspiracy in ‘sketchy’ Titanic sub rescue mission

Thursday 22 June 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

As a search for five tourists believed to be stranded at the bottom of the ocean continued into Thursday, the son of former President Donald Trump is weighing in about the situation.

Mr Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr, commented on Truth Social that the entire situation was “insane and sketchy” and baselessly predicted that “external factors” that had not yet been publicly disclosed were contributing to the inability of rescue teams to find the craft.

“Literally everything I’ve seen about this missing submarine is insane and sketchy AF... almost none of it makes any sense whatsoever. How long till we find other external factors making it even more so???” wrote the ex-president’s eldest son.

John Bowden reports:

Donald Trump Jr suggests conspiracy in ‘sketchy’ Titanic sub rescue mission

Explorer’s Club provides message of hope for passengers on Titan

Thursday 22 June 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio

The Explorer’s Club, a club dedicated to the field of exploration which Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet are members, released a new statement of hope in the search for the missing submersible.

“We remain hopeful for the successful rescue of the five crew members, While the planned life support supply depletes, we believe crew conservation and the near-freezing temperature could prolong life support,” the Explorer’s Club said.

They added that the crew aboard the Titan would be aware of this and exercise “conservation” to save their lives.

The US Coast Guard said they expected oxygen on the submersible to run out by Thursday morning, though they noted that it was not the only factor contributing to their possible rescue.

In addition to their message, the Explorer’s Club said the Magellan remote operated vehicle (ROV) was en route to the search site.

WATCH: Passenger who took 2021 trip to see Titanic says submersible 'was not safe'

Thursday 22 June 2023 15:15 , Ariana Baio

Stockton Rush’s wife is descendant of famous couple who died on Titanic

Thursday 22 June 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio

The wife of OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush is a descendant of a famous couple that died on the Titanic in 1912.

Wendy Rush is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, two of the wealthiest people who set sail on the Titanic, Mr Straus was a co-owner of Macy’s department store.

The couple is known for their love story which was fictionalised in the 1997 film Titanic directed by James Cameron. According to New York Times, the older couple that holds each other on a bed as water filled their cabin is based on Mr and Ms Straus.

Ms Rush is descended from the daughter of Mr and Ms Straus, Minnie Straus.

At this time, Ms Rush’s husband is currently aboard the missing OceanGate Expeditions submersible, the Titan.

Friends of missing billionaire believe Titanic submarine team could have longer to survive than first thought

Thursday 22 June 2023 14:45 , Ariana Baio

Close Friends of those stranded on the missing Titanic tourist submarine are urging the rescue mission to continue, despite the suggestion they have run out of oxygen.

Professor Hannaford, an explorer and the founder of World Extreme Medicine, said that “we should not give up hope” for his friend and the four others on board the Titan, while co-founder of OceanGate Guillermo Sohnlein said: “I continue to hold out hope for my friend [Stockton Rush] and the rest of the crew.”

After US Coast Guard estimated the vessel will have run out of oxygen at 1pm UK time on Thursday, an explorer friend of British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding said he believes several factors mean they could have longer than first thought.

Tara Cobham reports:

Friends of Hamish Harding believe submarine team could have longer than first thought