Titanic Exploration Sub's 5 Passengers Presumed Dead After 'Catastrophic Implosion'

The five-member crew aboard the Titan submersible bound for the ruins of the Titanic are presumed dead, OceanGate Expeditions, the company behind the sub and its expedition, announced Thursday.

The crew included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, as well as French oceanographer Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

"These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans," the company said in a statement.

"Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."

Titan Debris Discovered Near Titanic Wreck: Debris from the submersible’s exterior body was discovered Thursday approximately 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow, roughly marking the sub’s last known location, according to the Coast Guard.

On the reported banging sounds leading up to the Coast Guard finding the debris, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger said: “this was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel which would have generated a significant broadband sound.”

The finding of the debris was made by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from the Horizon Arctic vessel.

The Titan’s life support system was designed to last 96 hours, a window that had been rapidly closing since the sub’s disappearance on Sunday.

The precise circumstances leading to the event are yet to be fully explained.

Capt. Jamie Frederick, first Coast Guard direct response coordinator, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the Titan crew members. He noted the international cooperation and rapid response in this complex search operation and confirmed the ROV’s continued efforts to gather further information.

The Titan submersible. Photo courtesy of OceanGate.