A frantic search and rescue operation is underway in the Atlantic Ocean after a submersible carrying five people to the Titanic wreckage vanished on Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with Canadian agencies and private deep-sea companies, are racing against time to locate the vessel, named Titan, which is operated by OceanGate Expeditions.

The Coast Guard confirmed the submersible's disappearance and stated that one crew member and four "mission specialists" were aboard. Titan is designed to automatically surface if technical problems occur, and authorities are using aircraft equipped with sonar to scan both the surface and depths of the ocean.

OceanGate Expeditions released a statement emphasizing their concern for the crew and their families and highlighting the collaborative effort to re-establish contact. British billionaire Hamish Harding is believed to be among those missing, according to his stepson's social media post, although this has not been officially verified by OceanGate. Harding himself had posted about joining the expedition just days prior.

The submersible reportedly has a 96-hour life support capacity, leaving a shrinking window for rescuers. The USCG and the Rescue Coordination Center Halifax have deployed multiple aircraft, including a C-130 and a P-8 Poseidon, to assist in the search. Additional support from both the U.S. and Canada is on its way.

The missing submersible was part of OceanGate Expeditions' tourist trips to the Titanic site. (Xavier DESMIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Earlier in June, OceanGate mentioned utilizing Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service for communication during the expedition. It remains unclear whether communication issues contributed to the submersible's disappearance. The company charges $250,000 per person for these expeditions. Their website became inaccessible on Monday due to a surge in online traffic following the news.

An underwater remote vehicle explores the Titanic wreck. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

This incident follows the release of previously unseen footage of the Titanic wreckage by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution earlier this year. The footage, captured during an expedition in 1986, provided a haunting glimpse into the ship's remains, nearly 12,500 feet below the ocean surface.