In a desperate race against time, rescue workers rushed to locate a missing submersible near the Titanic wreck, as their oxygen supply rapidly depleted. Sonar-detected noises raised hopes that the five individuals aboard the submersible were still alive.
The US Coast Guard clarified that they had not confirmed whether the source of the sounds originated from the small sub. The passengers onboard were estimated to have less than 20 hours of oxygen remaining, which would run out by Thursday morning.
Captain Jamie Frederick, uncertain about the underwater noises detected late Tuesday by a Canadian aircraft, admitted, “We don’t know what they are, to be frank.” However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining optimism and hope.
Aid poured in from around the world as additional ships, specialized salvage equipment, and US Navy experts converged on the extensive search area in the North Atlantic. The rescue efforts focused on the vicinity where the sounds were detected.
“We’re searching in the area where the noises were detected, and we’ll continue to do so,” Frederick informed reporters in Boston.
The tourist submersible, named Titan, measuring 21 feet (6.5 meters), lost contact with its mothership less than two hours into its descent on Sunday to explore the remains of the Titanic, resting over two miles (nearly four kilometers) beneath the ocean’s surface.
The submersible carried British billionaire Hamish Harding, as well as British-Pakistani business tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman.
Members of the Dawood family have arrived in St. John’s, hoping for a successful outcome in the ongoing search and rescue operation, as reported by Dawn on Wednesday night.