Military Aircraft Based In Nova Scotia Assisting In Search For Missing Titanic Tourist Submersible

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax (JRCC) was contacted today by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Boston (MRCC) to lend assistance in the search for an overdue submersible owned by OceanGate Expeditions that had dived to the Titanic wreck.

Titanic struck an iceberg and sank 380 nautical miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on April 15, 1912.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Boston has requested assistance from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax in the search of an overdue submarine. The submersible has lost communications with its surface vessel located 380NM south of St. John’s NL.

— Halifax JRCC CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) June 19, 2023

A Royal Canadian Air Force Aurora aircraft out of 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia has been tasked with an aerial search of the site. The aircraft is primarily purposed for anti-submarine warfare and patrol purposes.

The Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Kopit Hopson 1752 has also been dispatched to the area to assist in the search for the missing submersible.

“Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families” said OceanGate Expeditions in a statement.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard the submersible lost contact 1 hour and 45 minutes into a dive to Titanic. Five people were onboard. One of those on board according to his family is British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding.