Search underway after Titanic tourist submarine goes missing, billionaire explorer possibly aboard

The Coast Guard is "currently undergoing a search and rescue operation" after a submersible used to tour the Titanic was reported missing Monday.

A British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding is possibly one of the passengers on the missing submarine, according to reports.

“Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023,” said a post to Instagram. “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow. We started steaming from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada yesterday and are planning to start dive operations around 4am tomorrow morning. Until then we have a lot of preparations and briefings to do.”

Harding’s stepson Brian Szasz wrote on Facebook asking for prayers for his stepfather, the Daily Mail reports.

“Thoughts and prayers for my stepfather Hamish Harding as his Submarine has gone missing exploring Titanic. Search and rescue mission is underway,” the post reads.

The Coast Guard is searching off the coast of Newfoundland, where the infamous Titanic shipwreck occurred in 1912 roughly 400 nautical miles away from the shoreline, CBS News reported.

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