The search continues for amissing submersiblethat was traveling to the site of theTitanicwreckage — but crews may be out of time.
The sub started withabout 96 hours of oxygenwhen it entered the water, according to United States Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick, who spoke at a press conference in Boston on Tuesday.
Just before 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Coast Guardannouncedthat a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) had discovered “adebris field” within the search area near the site of theTitanic.
Estimates suggest that theTitanran out of breathable air this morning, but some individuals are holding on to hope for the missing passengers.
Alamy Stock Photo
Guillermo Söhnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Rush in 2009, said in astatementThursday that he “firmly” believes that the window of time to rescue the missing passengers “is longer than what most people think.
Inside the Oceangate submersible Titan.Alamy Stock Photo
During an appearance Thursday onToday, United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger confirmed that crews are still hoping to rescue the victims.
“We continue to find, and particularly in complex cases, that people’s will to live really needs to be accounted for,” said Mauger, who is leading the search for the missing sub.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Multiple agencies from numerous countries have been assisting in the search for the missing vessel, which went missing about 900 miles east of Cape Cod and 400 miles south of St. Johns, Newfoundland, according to authorities.
On Thursday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Northeast Division said a Canadian vessel namedHorizon Arctichas deployed a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) “that hasreached the sea floorand began its search for the missing sub.”
French vessel namedL’Atalantealso“deployed their ROV”Thursday morning, per the Coast Guard.
Oceangate submersible Titan.Ocean Gate/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty
Ocean Gate/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty
However, the vessel may not be underwater any longer. Aaron Newman, an OceanGate investor,told CNNthat the vessel “is designed to come back up” to the surface automatically after 24 hours in the water.
Söhnlein is among those hoping for the best. He told CNN two pilots were rescued from a downed submersible in 1972 despite having “only 72 hours of life support.”
That said, Thursday “will be a critical day in this search and rescue mission,” as theTitan’s life support supplies start to “run low,” he added.
“I would encourage everyone to remain hopeful for getting the crew back safely,” Söhnlein wrote in Thursday’s statement. “I continue to hold out hope for my friend and the rest of the crew."
source: people.com
