A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has located a "debris field" within the search zone for the missing OceanGate Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the discovery Thursday morning, stating that experts are analyzing the findings. The Explorers Club, of which one of the missing passengers is a member, suggested the debris might be components of the submersible, possibly the landing frame and a rear cover, lost on previous dives. They also mentioned the possibility of additional debris, but stressed the Coast Guard is the official source for updates. The Coast Guard scheduled a press conference to provide more information.
The Titan submersible lost communication with its surface vessel, the Polar Prince, roughly 900 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive on Sunday. Five individuals were aboard: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush; British aviator and millionaire Hamish Harding; father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood; and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French maritime expert and veteran Titanic researcher. An extensive search and rescue operation involving resources from the U.S., Canada, France, and the U.K. has been underway, utilizing advanced technology like ROVs, sonar buoys, and aircraft. Earlier in the week, Canadian aircraft detected underwater sounds described as "banging," but the origin remained unknown at the time of the debris field discovery.
