Tragic news unfolded as officials confirmed that all five passengers on board a submersible, which had disappeared during a dive to explore the Titanic wreck site, have tragically lost their lives. The discovery of seafloor debris, found by underwater robots, indicated a catastrophic implosion. Rear Adm. John W. Mauger of the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic's robot located significant components of the 21-foot submersible named Titan, in a debris field approximately 1,600 feet away from the Titanic's bow. Mauger stated that the discovered debris is consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber.
He informed that the families of the passengers have been duly informed and expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard and the unified command. Rear Adm. John W. Mauger sympathized with the families, acknowledging the immense difficulty they must be going through. He hoped that the discovery would bring some solace during this challenging period. The passengers who tragically lost their lives were Stockton Rush, the pilot and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the sub's owning and operating company; Hamish Harding, the chairman of Action Aviation, an aircraft dealer based in Dubai; Paul-Henry Nargeolet, an experienced diver with over 30 trips to the wreck site; and Shahzada Dawood, a Pakistani businessman, along with his son Suleman.
In a statement, OceanGate expressed heartfelt condolences, emphasizing their support for the five individuals and their families during this tragic time. The company described the passengers as true explorers, possessing a unique spirit of adventure and a profound commitment to exploring and safeguarding the world's oceans. The loss of life and the happiness these individuals brought to others deeply saddened the company. The submersible was reported missing when contact with the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince was lost approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive, around 900 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to the Coast Guard. This prompted an international search-and-rescue operation, with crews working tirelessly using specialized equipment to locate the sub, which was equipped with an initial air supply of 96 hours and had limited provisions of food and water.
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