All 5 people on the Titanic tour submersible are dead following an implosion

[thewayne]

Very sad. Apparently the pressure vessel, i.e. carbon-fiber tube, suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing everyone pretty much instantly.

Early today an remote-operated vehicle (ROV) spotted a debris field on the ocean floor. Further study showed it to be pieces of the submersible. The Coast Guard Admiral who gave the news at a press conference was asked if the bodies could be recovered, he said he didn't know and that the bottom of the ocean is a very unforgiving place.

As to the banging noises heard on sonobuoys? Might have been man-made, might not have been. Classifying sounds on sonar and via sonobuoys is a very tricky thing. I don't know if they'll be able to determine when the vessel imploded in relation to when the banging noises were heard. Also, sound heard underwater: it's difficult to plot distance and location because thermal and salinity layers can make it a non-linear path.

There was very little hope the people would be found alive, but there was a little. Sadly, this was the likely result.

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/22/1183661199/sub-titan-titanic-missing-search

Comments

It is sad.

[kathmandu]

I remember when the Kursk submarine sank, people heard noises like banging and hope it was from the crew, trapped and alive. But when the rescue efforts finally made it in, they found everyone had died within minutes of the initial disabling explosion. Not really surprised it turned out the same way in this case.

Re: It is sad.

[thewayne]

The pressure from a hull breech is immense, the water coming through a small leak is like a sword and can cut people literally in half or sever limbs.  When you have a hull implosion, you don't suffer long.