As the search intensifies for the missing OceanGate Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage, a glimmer of hope has emerged. Authorities reported detecting "banging" noises at 30-minute intervals in the search area, a development that has buoyed the spirits of those anxiously awaiting news.

Bill Willard, a close friend of one of the missing passengers, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, expressed cautious optimism about the sounds. He suggested the possibility of the banging being a coded message in Morse code, a potential sign of life from the depths. Willard also discussed the potential use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to locate the submersible and potentially release its ballast, allowing it to rise to the surface. He theorized that a power failure might have prevented the submersible from automatically releasing its ballast and returning to the surface as designed.

Willard praised Nargeolet's extensive experience and professionalism, highlighting the unique qualifications of all those onboard the Titan. He likened the anxious wait to the collective feeling experienced during the Challenger space shuttle disaster, emphasizing the close-knit nature of the Titanic exploration community.

Jannicke Mikkelsen, a friend of another missing passenger, British billionaire Hamish Harding, shared her last text exchange with him before the dive. She expressed a mixture of hope and trepidation upon hearing the reports of the banging noises, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the situation. The recurring sounds suggest the possibility of survivors, but also raise concerns about their ability to be rescued and their dwindling oxygen supply.