After the US Coastguard confirmed that a "debris field" has now been discovered in the search for the missing Titan sub, diving experts have spoken out about the discoveries that have been made.
Speaking to BBC News, noted rescue expert David Mearns - who personally knows two of the five men onboard - claimed that it is the Titan's "landing frame and rear cover" that has been detected. However, the hull remains elusive, heightening fears for the sub's passengers.
These findings were made by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) scanning the sea floor. The US Coast Guard is currently scrutinizing this breakthrough information, promising an update in a press conference slated for 8:00PM UK time tonight.
The phrase "debris field" carries a heavy connotation in this context, Mearns told Sky News, explaining, "They don't use phrases like 'debris field' unless there's no chance of a recovery of the men alive." Such a term is indicative of the submersible breaking up, hinting at a catastrophic failure and likely implosion, Mearns added.
Despite this chilling prognosis, Mearns offered a small comfort, asserting that such an implosion would have occurred "immediately - literally in milliseconds - and the men wouldn't have known what was happening."
Among the lost are British billionaire Hamish Harding and French submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet - two personal friends of Mearns. Overwhelmed by the grim realization, Mearns confessed that his "worst fears have now been realized."
"Two friends of mine are gone," he said.
Also on the sub is Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman, and Stockton Rush - the CEO of OceanGate - which operates the sub.
The US Coast Guard is yet to officially disclose more information about the nature of the discovered debris but has pledged to reveal more details about the submersible, which went silent an hour and 45 minutes into its expedition to the Titanic's wreck.
Former Commander-in-Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent, has also speculated that the announced debris is likely connected to the Titan. He reasoned that if the debris were from the Titanic, the Coast Guard would have made that distinction, hence this discovery likely hints at a tragic end for the Titan.
Burnell-Nugent, explained: "There is of course a large debris field around the Titanic - and the various things we've seen retrieved from the Titanic have come from the debris field. It covers several hectares.
"But I think if this was Titanic debris, the Coast Guard would have made a distinction in the announcement. I think on balance this is probably grim news and suggests the Titan might have imploded under the immense pressure of the seawater while it was on its way down."
The Titan vanished on Sunday during an expedition dive to the Titanic's wreck, located 435 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. As the search ensues, a deep-sea robot, Victor 6000, armed with remotely controlled arms for precision maneuvers, is heading to the search area.
The Titan's crew includes British businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, alongside OceanGate's US-based chief executive and founder Stockton Rush. The Coast Guard's calculations predict that the sub's air supply was exhausted by 12:08PM UK time on Thursday. A vast search operation continues to sweep an Atlantic Ocean area twice the size of the US state of Connecticut, up to depths of 4,020m (13,200ft).
Our thoughts are with everybody involved and impacted by this developing story.
.jpg_wXEJDz?tr=h-184)
.jpg_7okWtP?tr=h-184)
