A Coast Guard officer confirmed Thursday that the five persons aboard a missing submarine died in a "catastrophic" accident, bringing a tragic end to the huge search for the craft that went missing during a mission to the Titanic.
"These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, as well as a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans," said OceanGate Expeditions. "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time."
Authorities said the small craft, approximately the size of a minivan, was carrying five people when it lost communication with its mothership on Sunday morning, about one hour and 45 minutes into its descent to survey the Titanic disaster.
The five people on board are British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood, and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
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According to a source familiar with the mission plan, the fifth person on board is Stockton Rush, the CEO and founder of the firm leading the expedition, Ocean Gate.
Harding, who has completed several difficult missions, is based in the United Arab Emirates and is a skilled jet pilot. He is the CEO of Action Aviation, a plane brokerage. Harding was on board the submersible, according to a corporate statement posted on social media.
According to a statement issued by Harding's family and his company Action Aviation, they are "joined in grief with the other families who have also lost loved ones on the Titan submersible."
"He was one of a kind, and we adored him," according to the statement.
"He was a passionate explorer – whatever the terrain – who lived his life for his family, his business, and the next adventure," added the statement, describing Harding as a "loving husband and a dedicated father to his two sons."
"What he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, it's that we lost him doing what he loved," the statement added.
