“All lives lost” was announced by OceanGate Expeditions. A debris field was discovered on Thursday in the search area near the Titanic wreckage.  This confirmed that an implosion occurred. The submarine had collapsed violently inward and been destroyed.

All five of the passengers' families were immediately notified.

The small submarine vessel, which was on a tour of the Titanic wreckage off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, vanished without a trace this weekend.

 The 21-foot deep-sea submersible lost contact approximately one hour and 45 minutes after submerging on Sunday morning. 

With a limited oxygen supply projected to run out on Thursday morning, a global search and rescue operation was initiated by the United States Coast Guard. 

All lives lost

The world was hoping that the 5-person-crew would be found alive and safe. Sadly, this was not the case. It is confirmed that all lives lost, and the passengers died.

All of the passengers' families were immediately notified that no onecould have survived the tragedy.

Experts within the unified command, including the U.S. Coast Guard, are evaluating the information. They hope to get further insight into the cause and timing of the implosion.

Renowned explorer Robert Ballard, who famously discovered the Titanic wreckage in 1985, expressed his sorrow upon hearing the news.

 In an interview with ABC News, Ballard shared his personal connection with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who piloted the ill-fated submersible. Ballard's heart went out to Rush, his family, and the families of all those who lost their loved ones in this tragic event.

A catastrophic implosion 

The debris field was scattered with five major pieces found, including the nose cone, officials said. The implosion had blown the sub apart.

Ballard said the crew likely experienced difficulties and began to drop weights in an attempt to surface but "never made it."

"If you're on your way up and you're buoyant and you don't make it, it's a catastrophic implosion," he explained.

"I don't think people can appreciate the amazing energy involved in the destructive process of an implosion," Ballard continued. "It just takes and literally shreds everything. So it's extremely powerful."

 The Explorers Club, a prestigious organization dedicated to scientific exploration, expressed their grief in a letter to members, highlighting the significant contributions of the lost passengers.

Echoes of the Titanic

James Cameron, the acclaimed director of the film "Titanic." Has personally explored the wreckage site.

Cameron criticized OceanGate's choice of a carbon-fiber hull, considering it "fundamentally flawed." 

In his view, this flaw mirrored the decision-making of the 1912 Titanic captain, who ignored warnings and steamed at full speed into an ice field. 

Cameron expressed his disbelief at the tragedy and mourned the loss of Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a friend and one of the passengers who perished.

Coast Guard officials reported the discovery of debris consistent with a "catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber." 

A remote-operated vehicle located the tail cone of the submersible about 1,600 feet from the Titanic's bow. The recovery of additional debris, including the nose cone, further supported the assessment of an explosive ending for the sub.

 Rear Adm. John Mauger emphasized the harsh and unforgiving nature of the deep-sea environment.

OceanGate issues statement

OceanGate issued a statement confirming the heartbreaking loss of all five individuals aboard the submersible.

"We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost," OceanGate said in a statement.

"These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans," the statement continued. "Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew."