US Coast Guard Confirms ‘Underwater Noises’ During Search for Missing Submarine
Washington, June 21: The US Coast Guard has officially confirmed that underwater noises were detected during the search for a missing tourist submarine with five people on board. In a recent update, the Coast Guard stated that a Canadian P-3 aircraft picked up these sounds in the search area. As a result, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations were redirected to investigate the origin of the noises. However, the ROV searches have so far yielded negative results, and the investigation is ongoing.
The data gathered from the Canadian P-3 aircraft has been shared with US Navy experts for further analysis, which will be taken into consideration for future search plans. While the authorities confirmed the existence of the underwater noises, they did not provide specific details about the nature of the sounds, according to reports from the BBC.
Prior to the official confirmation by the US Coast Guard, several American media outlets, referring to internal US government memos, reported that a Canadian search aircraft had detected periodic “banging” sounds in the area where the submarine disappeared on June 18. The exact duration and timing of the banging noises remain unclear.
The missing submarine, known as the Titan, was on a dive to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic when it went missing. According to the Coast Guard, the submarine vanished approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its dive. The Titan, owned by tour firm OceanGate, is a truck-sized submersible designed to accommodate five people and typically carries a four-day emergency supply of oxygen.
The search operation is currently underway in an expansive ocean area larger than the state of Connecticut, covering about 20,000 square kilometers. Search and rescue teams from Canada’s navy, air force, and coast guard, along with the New York State Air Guard, are assisting in the operation. Additionally, a French research vessel and Magellan, a British firm specializing in deep ocean investigations and recovery operations, have joined the mission.
The approximate location of the Titan submersible is believed to be 1,450 kilometers east and 643 kilometers south of St John’s, the capital of Newfoundland. The US Coast Guard estimates that the submarine has approximately 30 hours of oxygen remaining on board.
The five individuals on board the missing submarine are Hamish Harding, a 58-year-old British adventurer with previous experience in space and visits to the South Pole; Shahzada Dawood (48) and his son Suleman (19), both British businessmen; Paul-Henry Nargeolet (77), a former French Navy diver who has spent more time at the Titanic wreck than any other explorer and was part of the first expedition to visit it in 1987; and Stockton Rush (61), the chief executive of OceanGate.
The search efforts continue as authorities strive to locate and rescue the missing submarine and its occupants.
