CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — The U.S. Transportation Command tells 7 News there are three C-17 aircraft at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to transport commercial equipment to assist in the search for the missing submersible in the Atlantic Ocean.
The U.S. Transportation Command said it is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and the C-17s are expected to arrive in St. John's, Newfoundland later Tuesday.
According to the Associated Press and Scripps News, the submersible named the Titan is part of a mission by OceanGate Expeditions to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. It is carrying a pilot, a renowned British adventurer, two members of an iconic Pakistani business family and another passenger. It failed to return to the surface over the weekend and the search area is around 900 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Pelagic Research Services (PRS), which is located in Massachusetts but has a location in East Aurora, announced it has been contacted by OceanGate Expeditions "to provide critical support in the current rescue operation of the submersible Titan in the North Atlantic." PRS said it has sent the Odysseus 6K submersible along with a full team to staff and operate it.
A spokesperson for OceanGate provided the following statement to 7 News:
“For some time, we have been unable to establish communications with one of our submersible exploration vehicles which is currently visiting the wreck site of the Titanic. Our entire focus is on the wellbeing of the crew and every step possible is being taken to bring the five crew members back safely. We are deeply grateful for the urgent and extensive assistance we are receiving from multiple government agencies and deep-sea companies as we seek to reestablish contact with the submersible. We pray for the safe return of the crew and passengers, and we will provide updates as they are available.”
Governor Kathy Hochul also announced the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing is assisting the United States Coast Guard in the search and rescue operation.
"Based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island, the 106th is one of three Air National Guard search and rescue units in the country and the only one based on the East Coast. The 106th flies fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft and rescue helicopters and has a unit of pararescue jumpers who are trained to rescue people on sea and on land," a release says.
The governor's office said the 106th Rescue Wing launched an HC-130J Combat King search and rescue aircraft on Monday afternoon with 13 airmen on board including a team of pararescue jumpers. It flew 900 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean and searched a designated area using forward-looking infrared radar and onboard observers before it returned to base at 2 a.m.
