The debris found in the search for the missing Titan submersible is reportedly 'a landing frame and a rear cover' from the vessel, according to an expert connected to the search.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) confirmed earlier this afternoon that a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) had discovered a 'debris field' near the wreckage of the Titanic. Rescue expert David Mearns, who knows two of the passengers on board Titan, was being interviewed on Sky News when he received an update on the debris found.
Mr Mearns said he was part of a WhatsApp group involving The Explorers Club and had received a message confirming that the debris found was part of the submersible. He told the broadcaster that the president of the club, who is "directly connected" to the ships on the site, said to the group: "It was a landing frame and a rear cover from the submersible."
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The USCG has said it will not yet comment on what the debris consisted of. However, a press conference will be held at the Coast Guard base in Boston to “discuss the findings” at 8pm UK time.
The ROV that made the discovery was from the Canadian Horizon Arctic ship, the USSG said. The agency said experts were “evaluating the information” after the discovery of the debris.
Mr Mearns is a UK-based marine scientist and oceanographer who specialises in searching for shipwrecks. He is friends with the founding member of the Board of Trustees of The Explorers Club, Hamish Harding, who is one of the passengers on board the undersea craft.
The others on board the sub are UK-based businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman Dawood, OceanGate’s chief executive and founder Stockton Rush and French submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The deep-sea vessel was about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland, when it lost communication during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada on Sunday.
OceanGate Expeditions estimated the oxygen supply on the 6.7m (22ft)-long vessel would last 96 hours, giving rescuers a deadline of around midday on Thursday.
Rear Admiral John Mauger previously confirmed that there will be an investigation into what has led to the submersible going missing. He told Sky News: “There’s going to be a time and place for a thorough investigation. I don’t know what that looks like right now.
"The focus of the unified command is on the search and rescue, and so we’re going to continue to use all those assets that we have on scene and really focus on locating the submersible and the people on board.”
