[Update 12:00pm Pacific time]
During a press conference, the Coast Guard has confirmed that the debris found on the sea floor were from the missing submarine. The wreckage remains were expressed to be, “consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber” said, Rear Adm. John Mauger.
The sub’s owner, Oceangate, released a statement confirming the deaths of the 5 people on board at the time of the accident:
We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost.
These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” according to the 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.
[Earlier News]
The US Coast Guard has issued a statement saying a debris field has been found in the area they were last searching for Oceangate’s missing submersible.
“A debris field was discovered within the search area by an ROV near the Titanic. Experts within the unified command are evaluating the information,” the statement said.
A press conference is scheduled to take place at 3pm (EST) to discuss the findings.
This story is developing…
