The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the missing submersible that set off to tour the Titanic on Sunday had a catastrophic failure while descending.
Several parts of the vessel were found in two debris fields near the Titanic, which sunk in 1912, that seem to show the vessel imploded.
“An ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, from the vessel ‘Horizon Arctic,’ discovered the tail cone of the Titan submersible approximately 1600 from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor,” said Rear Admiral John Mauger, first district U.S. Coast Guard.
Aboard the submersible were Stockton Rush, CEO of Oceangate, the company leading the voyage; French researcher, Paul Henri Nargeolet, also known as “Mr. Titanic,” who’s been to the wreck more than three dozen times; aviation tycoon and adventure explorer Hamish Harding; and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman.
“On behalf of the United States Coast Guard, and the entire Unified Command, I offer my deepest condolences to the families,” said Rear Admiral Mauger.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirms it will continue the recovery mission and investigation to help bring closure to the family and friends of the victims.
