«Our entire focus is on the wellbeing of the crew.,» spokespeople for OceanGate Expeditions told Newsweek.
Passengers aboard the now-missing submersible that went to explore the remains of the RMS Titanic may not be able to escape.
In 2022, CBS News correspondent David Pogue traveled on the submersible, called The Titan, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, and, this week, he explained to BBC that the surfacing capabilities of the vessel are limited.
«There’s no backup, there’s no escape pod,» Pogue told the BBC. «It’s, ‘Get to the surface or die.'»
The comments by Pogue come shortly after OceanGate Expeditions confirmed to CBS News that a search and rescue mission was underway to locate The Titan which was traveling to see the wreckage of the Titanic, which sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg while sailing to New York from Britain on its first voyage, killing about 1,500 people.
«We are deeply grateful for the urgent and extensive assistance we are receiving from multiple government agencies and deep-sea companies as we seek to reestablish contact with the submersible. We pray for the safe return of the crew and passengers, and we will provide updates as they are available,» the statement added.
