TITAN DEBRIS ASHORE
‘Possible human remains’ recovered
The mangled wreckage of the doomed Titan sub was seen for the first time Wednesday — 10 days after it imploded, killing all five passengers on a deep-sea tour of the Titanic.
Along with the twisted metal, recovery crews found “presumed human remains” at the site of the implosion. The US Coast Guard said “medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis” on the possible remains.
Several large chunks of the submersible were hauled ashore, lifted by crane from the recovery ship after it docked in Canada.
Despite attempts to keep it covered, photos appeared to show mangled electronics — as well as the nose cone with its distinctive circular window, The Canadian Press said.
The debris was recovered by US-based Pelagic Research Services, which said its Horizon Arctic crew has been “working around the clock now for 10 days” through “physical and mental challenges.”
They used specialized remotecontrolled vehicles to find the shattered sub about 12,500 feet underwater and several hundred feet from the Titanic wreckage its passengers aimed to explore.
“Bravo, and welcome back, team! You have made all of us extremely proud of the job you performed flawlessly,” the company said.
Tragedy probes
The debris will be examined as part of US and Canadian investigations into the tragedy.
Officials believe the Titan suffered a “catastrophic implosion” soon into its dive on Father’s Day.
It was piloted by Titan sub-CEO Stockton Rush, 61, who has been accused of ignoring major safety concerns while allowing wealthy tourists to pay $250,000 each for the trip.
He died alongside French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, prominent Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman Dawood.
Christine Dawood, Shahzada’s grieving widow and mother to Sulaiman, remembered them as “best friends” during a virtual memorial service on Tuesday.
“These past few days have been incredibly challenging as a family,” Christine said through tears. “Emotions from excitement to shock to hope and finally despair and grief.”
Christine was on board the support vessel Polar Prince on June 18 when she got word that communications with the Titan had been lost.
Speaking about Sulaiman’s birth, she said that when her husband held his son “for the first time, I just knew these two belonged together. His expression was like finding a long-lost companion for adventures to come.”