Submarine carrying tourists missing while visiting Titanic, search underway

The U.S. Coast Guard said the submarine lost contact with the small submersible about an hour and 45 minutes after it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. Tour firm Oceangate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people aboard the submarine.

'Titan' submersible pictures before going under the sea.

A tourist submarine carrying tourists interested in seeing the wreck of the Titanic has gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean. A massive search and rescue operation has started in search of the missing submarine immediately after the incident on Sunday. BBC news.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the submarine lost contact with the small submersible about an hour and 45 minutes after it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday.

Tour firm Oceangate said all options were being explored to rescue the five people aboard the submarine.

Tourists can spend $250,000 for an eight-day trip to explore the Titanic wreck, 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) below the Atlantic floor.

Officials said government agencies, the U.S. and Canadian navies and commercial companies working in the deep sea are helping with the rescue efforts.

The wreck is located about 435 miles (700 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. However, rescue operations are being conducted from Boston, Massachusetts.

The missing submarine is named 'Titan'. Five people can travel in this submarine. It usually travels to the bottom of the ocean with a four-day emergency oxygen supply.

"I think we have 70 to 96 hours at the most," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Moger said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

He also said that two aircraft, a submarine and a sonobuoy are being used in the search operation. But as the area is 'insurmountable', it has become difficult to carry out search operations.

John Moger said rescue teams are doing their best to bring the missing tourists home safely.

One of the five people aboard the missing submarine was 58-year-old British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. This information is known from his family sources.

Hamish Harding took to social media over the weekend to 'proudly announce' that he has finally joined the mission to visit the wreck of the Titanic. But he also said that "Newfoundland has had its worst winter in 40 years. This mission will probably be the first tourist mission to the Titanic wreck in 2023."

Hamish later wrote, "In spite of the bad weather there is a good opportunity, so we can go to the bottom of the sea tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Oceangate said its full attention is now on the crew members and their families on board the submarine. The organization thanked the government agencies and organizations that are helping in this rescue operation.

According to the organization's website, they have one campaign underway this year and two more in June next year.

Such small submersibles usually have a driver and three passengers. Another is the 'content expert' who explains everything under the sea to tourists.

The submarine started its journey from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. It usually takes about eight hours to get to the bottom of the wreckage and back again.

Although Oceangate has three other submersibles, only the 'Titan' is capable of reaching the wreck of the Titanic.

The submarine weighs 23,000 pounds (10,432 kg) and, according to the website, can reach depths of up to 13,100 feet and provide 96 hours of life support for a crew of five.

Another ship, the Polar Prince - used to transport the submarine to the Titanic wreck - was also involved in the operation, its owner told the BBC.

David Pugh, a journalist from CBS, visited the wreck of the Titanic last year. He spoke to the BBC about the problems the missing submarine and its passengers could face. He said, at the moment there is 'no way' to contact the submarine. Because neither GPS nor radio works underwater.

Since the passengers are put inside the submarine and the doors are locked from the outside, there is no way for them to get out of the submarine. Even if they float up, passengers cannot get out unless a member from outside opens the door.

In 1912, the Titanic sank after hitting a floating iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York. About 1,500 of the 2,200 passengers and crew on board were killed in this accident. The wreckage of the Titanic was discovered in 1985.