Who is Aboard the Titanic Submarine: Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, and Son Suleman?
Hamish Harding, 58, serves as the chairman of Action Aviation, a notable aircraft firm, and is widely recognized for his extraordinary explorations, including his space travel experiences and possession of three Guinness World Records.
The family of businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman, have made a heartfelt plea for prayers from the public during this challenging time.
OceanGate, the operator of the submersible, has expressed its complete dedication to ensuring the safe return of the crew, and their efforts are solely focused on this objective.
It is believed that French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet is also among the individuals on board, as indicated in a Facebook post by Hamish Harding prior to the commencement of the dive. Additionally, Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, is widely reported to be on the vessel as well.
After approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its dive in the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, communication with the small submersible was lost. Search teams are currently engaged in a race against time to locate the vessel, but thus far, there have been no indications or signs of its whereabouts. The urgency to locate the submersible is paramount, and efforts are underway to find it as quickly as possible.
Billionaire private jet dealer Mr. Harding, known for his penchant for adventure, embarked on the latest thrilling expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic. His impressive track record includes multiple visits to the South Pole, a spaceflight aboard Blue Origin's human-crewed mission in 2022, and three world records, including the longest time spent at full ocean depth during a dive to the Mariana Trench's deepest part.
Mr. Harding took to social media over the weekend to announce the departure of a ship from St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada, en route to the Titanic wreck. The plan was to commence diving operations in the submersible at approximately 04:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Sunday morning.
Expressing his pride in being part of the Titanic mission, Mr. Harding acknowledged that due to Newfoundland's severe winter conditions, this venture was likely to be the sole manned expedition to the Titanic in 2023. However, a weather window had opened up, presenting an opportunity for the dive the following day.
Action Aviation confirmed the successful launch of the submersible and reported that Mr. Harding was currently diving. However, later, his stepson Brian Szasz, in a now-deleted Facebook post, stated that Mr. Harding had gone missing on the submarine.
Patrick Woodhead, founder of British tour operator White Desert Antarctica, praised Mr. Harding as an incredible aviation explorer and a passionate advocate for discovering new avenues to improve the world. Mr. Harding had accompanied them on multiple trips to Antarctica, including one with US astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
During this uncertain time, thoughts and prayers are extended to Mr. Harding's wife, Linda, and his sons, as expressed by Patrick Woodhead.
On Tuesday, the Dawood family from Pakistan issued a statement regarding the disappearance of their son, Shahzada Dawood, and his son, Suleman, during their expedition to the remains of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. The family, currently residing in Surbiton, southwest London, is visiting Canada for a month.
Shahzada Dawood, hailing from one of Pakistan's wealthiest families, is identified as a trustee of the Seti Institute, a California-based research organization, according to their website. He resides in the UK with his wife, Christine, and their children Suleman and Alina. Shahzada Dawood is a member of the Founder's Circle of the British Asian Trust and holds the position of vice chairman in Dawood Hercules Corporation, a subsidiary of the Dawood Group, a conglomerate of family-owned businesses.
The statement released by Shahzada Dawood's parents expressed gratitude for the concern shown by colleagues and friends and requested everyone to pray for the safe return of their loved ones. They assured that the family is being well looked after and remains hopeful for the safe recovery of Shahzada Dawood and Suleman.
The search operation for the missing submersible has involved military planes, a submarine, and sonar buoys. While the Titanic wreck lies approximately 435 miles (700km) south of St. John's, Newfoundland, the rescue mission is being coordinated from Boston, Massachusetts. The US Coast Guard reported that the research ship Polar Prince conducted a surface search for the sub on Monday evening. The Polar Prince is utilized for transporting submersibles to the wreckage site and served as the support vessel during Sunday's tourist expedition.
Regarding inquiries about Hamish Harding, a spokesperson from the UK's Foreign Office stated that they are in contact with the family of a British man following reports of a missing submarine off the coast of North America.
OceanGate Expeditions organized an exclusive eight-day trip priced at $250,000 (£195,600) per person, offering participants the opportunity to visit the wreckage of the Titanic. The journey commences in St. John's, Newfoundland.
The expedition involves a 370-mile (595km) voyage on a larger ship to reach the area above the Titanic wreck site. From there, participants undertake an eight-hour dive to the Titanic aboard a submersible called Titan, which is comparable in size to a truck.
Titan, designed to accommodate five individuals, incorporates "life support" capabilities that can sustain the crew for up to 96 hours, as stated on the OceanGate Expeditions website.
Resting at a depth of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) beneath the ocean surface, the Titanic is located approximately 600km (370 miles) off the coast of Newfoundland.
During its inaugural journey from Southampton to New York in 1912, the Titanic, hailed as the largest ship of its time, collided with an iceberg. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of over 1,500 lives out of the 2,200 passengers and crew members onboard.
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