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.”
