‘Reach the Surface or Face Certain Death’

The search for the missing Titanic-bound submersible off the coast of Newfoundland is ongoing, and new details about the passengers have emerged. Among the five individuals on board are Hamish Harding, the CEO of Action Aviation and a billionaire British adventurer, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French explorer. Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, which owns the Titan submersible, is also on board, along with Shahzada Dawood, one of Pakistan’s wealthiest men, and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman. Shahzada Dawood, who is 48 years old and serves as the vice chairman of Engro Corporation, resides in Surrey, England, with his wife. They have a daughter named Alina in addition to their son Sulaiman. More information about the missing submersible:

• Lucky twist of fate: According to the Mirror, one crew member, David Concannon, had been scheduled to be on the expedition but had to cancel due to other commitments. He has since joined the rescue efforts.
• Previous close call: CBS News reporter David Pogue, who was involved in an OceanGate mission to the Titanic wreckage last summer, mentioned on Twitter that the submersible got lost for a few hours during the journey.
• Predictions: Pogue, who has written about his mission, expressed concerns about the submersible’s situation. He highlighted that none of the backup functions designed for resurfacing have been successful so far. He also mentioned that the passengers are sealed inside the vessel and would require assistance from a crew to be released if necessary.

• “Not optimistic”: Former Simpsons showrunner Mike Reiss, who dived to the Titanic wreckage last year, expressed doubts about the chances of accessing and retrieving the submersible due to the vastness of the ocean and the small size of the craft.
• What it’s like on board: Historian and author Charles Haas shared his experience of journeying to the Titanic three decades ago. He described the trip as uncomfortable, with passengers wearing six layers of clothing to endure near-freezing temperatures and condensation from their breath dripping onto them.
• “Race against time”: According to Concannon, the Titan submersible had 96 hours of oxygen when it began its mission on Sunday. Rescuers have until early Thursday at the latest to locate and rescue the occupants. The US Coast Guard is also involved in the search.