Rescue efforts are underway to locate a submarine that went missing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Canada. The submersible was carrying wealthy tourists to see the wreckage from the 1912 Titanic disaster, which lies 12,500 feet undersea. Coast Guard ships from the US and Canada detected underwater noises that are believed to be from the missing submersible, and efforts are being made to locate it.
The submarine had enough oxygen for 41 hours, according to the US Coast Guard, meaning that it is likely to have run out of air by now. The tourists may have been able to conserve their oxygen supply, but with time running out, the chances of survival are low. The trip, which cost $250,000 per person, was due to be the only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023 because of the severe winter weather in Newfoundland.
Among the missing onboard the submersible are British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani father-son duo Shahzada Dawood and Suleman, 77-year-old French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush, founder, and CEO of OceanGate, the company that operated the submersible.
Harding, who is known for his adventurous exploits, expressed pride on social media before boarding the Titanic submarine. He is the chairman of the aviation company Action Aviation. Dawood is the vice-chairman of Pakistan’s Engro Corporation, while his son Suleman is a fan of science fiction literature. Nargeolet possesses extensive experience in both deep-sea diving and minesweeping and holds the position of director of an underwater research company that owns legal ownership of the Titanic. Rush, at the age of 19, became the youngest pilot to receive a DC-8 Type/Captain’s rating at the United Airlines Jet Training Institute.
The search and rescue operation are critical, and efforts are ongoing to locate the submersible, which is believed to have run out of air. With time running out, the chances of survival are low. The missing passengers are among the world’s most renowned adventurers, and the world awaits word on their fate.
