The search for the Titan submersible, which went missing near the Titanic wreck site on Monday, is still ongoing as underwater noises were detected by a Canadian aircraft in the area, according to the US Coast Guard.
The Titan, which can dive up to 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), was carrying three people when it lost contact with its support ship during a routine expedition to explore the sunken ocean liner. The submersible is owned by OceanGate Expeditions, a private company that offers deep-sea tours and research missions.
The US Coast Guard said on Wednesday that it had deployed two aircraft and a cutter to assist in the search, which covers about 2,000 square nautical miles. It also said that it had received reports of regular “banging noises” from the ocean floor, but could not confirm if they were coming from the Titan or not.
“We are hopeful that these noises are an indication that the crew is trying to communicate with us,” said Capt. Wes Hester, the Coast Guard’s search mission coordinator. “We are continuing to search and listen until we have a definitive answer.”
The Coast Guard said it was working closely with OceanGate Expeditions and the Canadian government to coordinate the search efforts. It also said it was in contact with the families of the missing crew members, who have not been publicly identified.
OceanGate Expeditions said in a statement on Tuesday that it was “devastated” by the incident and that it was doing everything possible to locate and rescue the Titan crew. It also said that it had suspended all its operations until further notice.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our crew, their families, and our colleagues as we work through this difficult time,” the statement said.
The Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic, killing more than 1,500 people. The wreck was discovered in 1985 and has since been visited by several expeditions, including one led by filmmaker James Cameron in 2001.
