Titanic submersible, with 5 passengers on board, likely suffered a catastrophic implosion while attempting to reach the Titanic shipwreck.
The submersible disappeared approximately one hour and 45 minutes after beginning its dive.
The passengers on board were Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Suleman Dawood, Shahzada Dawood, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
OceanGate is a private company that organizes expeditions to shipwrecks and underwater canyons.
The Titanic wreck is located about 400 miles off Newfoundland, where the vessel sank in 1912, resulting in the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
Search efforts involved coordination between the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian authorities, and commercial vessels, deploying remotely operated vehicles and sonar technology.
A debris field discovered on the ocean floor suggests a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber in the submersible.
The challenging and unforgiving environment on the sea floor poses difficulties in recovering the remains of the victims.
In 2018, concerns were raised about the submersible's development and the planned voyage to the Titanic wreck by industry experts.
The loss of the passengers aboard the Titan is a tragic event, and condolences were extended to their families by the U.S. Coast Guard.