2 days ago
7
One of the final messages from the Titan submersible crew said they were "all good here" before it imploded, killing all five on board.
British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood died alongside OceanGate Expeditions' chief executive Stockton Rush and Frenchman Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The five of them had been communicating with support staff aboard the Polar Prince by text messages, according to an animation presented by the US Coast Guard, shown on the first day of the hearing looking into the causes of the implosion.
Titanic sub hearing latest: Moment remains of imploded submersible found
The crew began to lose contact with those aboard the Polar Prince who repeatedly asked about the submersible's depth and weight as it descended toward the wreck of the Titanic.
The Polar Prince sent repeated messages asking if the Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display.
One of the Titan's final responses, which became spotty as it descended deeper, was "all good here".
The submersible made its final dive on 18 June 2023, losing contact with its support ship around two hours later.
Rescuers rushed ships, planes, and other equipment to an area around 435 miles (700km) south of St John's, Newfoundland.
The search for the Titan attracted global attention and the wreckage was eventually found on the ocean floor around 300m from the Titanic wreckage, according to officials.
The hearing in Charleston County, South Carolina, is expected to last two weeks.
It aims to "uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future".
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
"There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this tragic incident," said Jason Neubauer of the Coast Guard Office of Investigations, who led the hearing.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
English (US)