Presumed “human remains” have been recovered from the mangled wreckage of the doomed Titan sub after it was hauled ashore, the US Coast Guard says.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Coast Guard said US “medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis of presumed human remains that have been carefully recovered within the wreckage at the site of the incident”.
“I am grateful for the coordinated international and interagency support to recover and preserve this vital evidence at extreme offshore distances and depths,” Marine Board of Investigation Chair Captain Jason Neubauer said.
“The evidence will provide investigators from several international jurisdictions with critical insights into the cause of this tragedy. There is still a substantial amount of work to be done to understand the factors that led to the catastrophic loss of the TITAN and help ensure a similar tragedy does not occur again.”
The MBI will “continue evidence collection and witness interviews to inform a public hearing regarding this tragedy”, the Coast Guard said.
It comes after the wreckage of the Titan was seen for the first time Wednesday — 10 days after it imploded, killing all five passengers on a deep-sea tour of the Titanic.
Several large chunks of the submersible were hauled ashore, lifted by crane from the recovery ship after it docked in Canada.
Despite attempts to keep it covered, photos appeared to show mangled electronics — as well as the nose cone with its distinctive circular window, Canada Press said.
The debris was recovered by US-based Pelagic Research Services, which said its crew on the Horizon Arctic has been “working around the clock now for ten days” through “physical and mental challenges.”
They used specialised remote-controlled vehicles to find the shattered sub about 12,500 feet underwater and several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage that it was on its way to explore.
“Bravo, and welcome back, team! You have made all of us extremely proud of the job you performed flawlessly,” the company said.
The debris will be examined as part of US and Canadian investigations into the tragedy.
Officials believe the Titan suffered a “catastrophic implosion” soon into its dive on Father’s Day.
It was piloted by Titan sub-CEO Stockton Rush, 61, who has since faced mounting controversy for seemingly ignoring major safety concerns while allowing wealthy tourists to pay $250,000 each for the trip.
He died alongside French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, prominent Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman Dawood.
US and Canadian authorities are investigating the tragedy.
— with NY Post