A joint operation involving aircraft, ships, and advanced underwater equipment from the United States, Canada, and France is currently underway to locate the Titan, a submersible vessel owned by OceanGate Expeditions.

The Titan vanished during its journey to the Titanic wreckage site in the North Atlantic Ocean. Led by the U.S. Coast Guard, the search operation is diligently scouring the remote area for any signs of the missing submersible.

The search has recently detected underwater noises in the designated search area, but it remains unclear what caused these sounds. A robotic vessel has been deployed to investigate the area but has not yet found any positive results. Additional remotely operated vessels have been dispatched to assist in the search.

The search operation has covered an extensive area, twice the size of Connecticut, in waters that are approximately 2 1/2 miles deep. The equipment being utilized in the search is state-of-the-art and capable of reaching great depths. The search efforts continue in order to locate the missing submersible and its five occupants.

The Titan went missing on Sunday morning after it submerged into the water. Approximately an hour and 45 minutes later, the support vessel lost contact with the submersible, as reported by the Coast Guard. The incident occurred around 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John's, Newfoundland, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

OceanGate Expeditions had hired an icebreaker, previously operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, from which the Titan was launched. This icebreaker has been used to transport numerous individuals and the submersible to the North Atlantic wreck site, where the Titan has conducted multiple dives.

A representative emphasized the importance of maintaining hope and unity within the global community to locate the missing explorers and ensure their safe return. On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy official announced that a specialized naval salvage system, capable of lifting the Titan to the surface, had arrived in St. John's. Efforts were underway to identify a suitable vessel to which the salvage system could be attached. Once a vessel is secured, it would take approximately 24 hours to complete the welding process and secure the salvage system to the deck.