Canada’s Military Believed in Man-Made Noises During Titan Sub Search, New Documents Show
Newly obtained documents reveal that during the June 2023 search for the missing Titan submersible, Canada’s military was “highly confident” that the sounds heard underwater were man-made, likely from an object striking the hull of a vessel. This belief fueled hope that the five people on board might still be alive, even though it is now understood that the submersible likely imploded shortly after its descent began.
The documents, acquired by CBC News through the Access to Information Act, detail the Canadian Coast Guard’s internal communications and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s role in detecting the noises near the Titanic wreck site at a depth of approximately 10,000 feet. Despite the efforts and the optimism these noises generated, the search was called off when debris from the Titan was discovered on June 22, confirming the vessel’s catastrophic implosion.
The revelation that these noises were not from the Titan but likely from other sources such as search ships or mechanical underwater activity has added to the ongoing investigation. Retired sonar experts and military personnel now suggest that the noises were misinterpreted, and there was little expectation among those involved in the search that the crew could have survived.
As investigations continue, including a $50 million lawsuit by the family of one of the victims, the details of the Titan’s unconventional construction and lack of regulatory oversight have come under scrutiny. The high-profile search, which involved extensive Canadian resources, has also sparked discussions about who should bear the costs of such rescue operations.
