The Coast Guard has recovered the remaining debris, as well as presumed human remains, from a submersible that imploded in June while on its way to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. All five individuals on board were killed in the incident, which occurred deep beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The recovery and transfer of the remaining parts were completed recently, and a photo shows the intact aft titanium endcap of the submersible. Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within the debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals.
The salvage mission, conducted under an agreement with the US Navy, was a follow-up to the initial recovery operations near the Titanic’s wreck site. The new materials have been offloaded at an unnamed port. The Coast Guard had previously recovered presumed human remains and parts of the submersible after locating the debris field at a depth of 12,500 feet. Investigators believe that the submersible, named Titan, imploded as it descended into the deep waters of the North Atlantic on June 18. The search for the wreckage received global attention, and international investigative agencies are now coordinating to schedule a joint review of the evidence for forensic testing.
The Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation announced that investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada took part in the salvage operation. Meanwhile, the Marine Board of Investigation will continue its analysis and witness interviews in preparation for a public hearing on the tragedy. OceanGate, the operator of the submersible, has since gone out of business. Among those who lost their lives in the implosion was Stockton Rush, the pilot of the submersible and CEO of the company.
