A Canadian aircraft has detected underwater noises in the search area for the missing submersible Titan. The noises were heard every 30 minutes, and the US Coast Guard has confirmed that they are likely signs of life.
The noises were detected by a Canadian P-3 aircraft, which is equipped with underwater detection capabilities. The aircraft was deployed to the search area after the Titan lost contact with its support surface vehicle, the Polar Prince, on Sunday.
The US Coast Guard has said that the noises are “likely signs of life”. However, they have not been able to confirm the source of the noises, or whether they are coming from the Titan.
The search for the Titan is being coordinated by the US Coast Guard and is involving multiple agencies and governments. The search area is vast, and the conditions are difficult. However, rescuers are hopeful that the noises will lead them to the missing submersible and its crew.
The Titan is a 21-foot (6.5-meter) submersible that was carrying three fee-paying passengers when it vanished: British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani tycoon Shahzada Dawood and Dawood´s son Suleman. OceanGate Expeditions, which runs the Titan’s trips, charges $250,000 for a seat.
The company’s CEO Stockton Rush and French submarine operator Paul-Henri Nargeolet, nicknamed “Mr. Titanic” for his frequent dives at the site, is also aboard.
The search efforts have focused on both surface and subsurface. C-130 aircraft have been searching by sight and with radar, while P-3 aircraft have been dropping and monitoring sonar buoys.
The search area is vast, and the conditions are difficult. The water is cold and dark, and the currents are strong.
Rescuers are hopeful that the noises will lead them to the missing submersible and its crew.