In a tragic turn of events, Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, are among the five passengers who have gone missing while exploring the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The duo was on board the ‘Titan’ submarine operated by OceanGate Expeditions, which had embarked on a journey to give paying tourists a unique glimpse of the historic shipwreck. The 21-foot (6.5-meter) tourist craft began its descent on Sunday, aiming to reach the depths of 12,500 feet underwater.
Surface search underway for the OceanGate Titan Submersible. The five people stuck inside the Titanic submarine:
Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 73
Stockton Rush, 61
Hamish Harding, 58
Shahzada Dawood, 48
Sulaiman Dawood, 19 pic.twitter.com/hzwBbQf9jY— san (@sanandrios) June 20, 2023
However, less than two hours into the expedition, authorities lost contact with the submarine, located approximately 640 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Shahzada Dawood, a UK-based Pakistani billionaire, is known for his keen interest in photography and his affection for animals. He is also the Vice President of Engro, a leading business in Pakistan.
He shares his home with his wife Christine, a life coach, and their children, Suleman and Alina, along with their cherished pets.
In a statement, the Dawood family expressed gratitude for the concern shown by colleagues and friends and requested everyone to pray for the safety of Shahzada and Suleman.
Lots of prayers for the dawood family and for the safe recovery of suleman and shahzada dawood
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) June 20, 2023
A joint rescue effort led by multiple government agencies and deep-sea companies is underway to re-establish contact with the submersible and bring the passengers back safely. The vessel is said to be running out of oxygen, intensifying the urgency of the search and rescue operation.
Shahzada Dawood and His son missing. He is Vice Chairman Engro which also owns and operate Pakistan's first terminal EETPL
While a submarine can launch independently from a port and can come back on its own power, a submersible needs a mother ship to launch it. pic.twitter.com/SUTaVkoHnz
— Asim Riaz (@AsimRiaz1978) June 20, 2023
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The Dawood family, known for their vast wealth in Pakistan and strong connections to the UK, are prominent figures in business and social circles. Shahzada Dawood’s passion for exploration led him and his son on this ill-fated journey to visit the remnants of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. The disappearance of the Dawood family and the other passengers onboard the ‘Titan’ submersible has sent shockwaves through the international community.
As search and rescue teams battle against time and challenging conditions, the world anxiously awaits any news of a breakthrough in locating the missing submarine. The thoughts and prayers of people from all walks of life are directed towards the safe return of Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, and the other passengers on board the ‘Titan.’