Search Underway for Sub Missing Near Titanic Wreck Off Newfoundland

In this grab taken from a digital scan released by Atlantic/Magellan on May 18, 2023, a view of the bow of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean is shown, created using deepsea mapping. (The Canadian Press/AP- Atlantic/Magellan via AP)

A search is underway off the coast of Newfoundland for a small submersible reported missing near the wreck of the Titanic.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax says a research submarine was reported overdue around 9:13 p.m. Sunday, about 700 kilometres south of St. John’s, N.L.

Lt.-Cmdr. Len Hickey says an Aurora military aircraft and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Kopit Hopson are assisting the searcheffort, which is being led by the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston.

Chief Mi’sel Joe, who is head of the Newfoundland and Labrador Mi'kmaq band that owns the ship from which the small submarine is launched, confirms it is operated by OceanGate Expeditions.

Joe couldn’t say how many people were on board the submersible, which can seat up to five people.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey tweeted that he is thinking of those affected and hopes the U.S. Coast Guard finds “the sub and those on it very soon.”