RAF Lossie steps up in Titanic submarine search
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RAF LOSSIEMOUTH personnel have left for Canada as part of efforts to recover a missing submersible.
A Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster and A400 Atlas have departed RAF Lossiemouth today, after receiving a request from the US Coastguard to attend the scene.
The two RAF planes will transfer equipment and personnel to Canada, to aid in the search and rescue operation for the missing five person Titan submersible, which disappeared on Sunday morning.
The five person submersible is roughly the size of a mini-van and was on a trip to view the wreckage of the HMS Titanic – which sits around 370 miles from the coast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.
The Titan lost contact around one-hour-and-45 minutes into the trip on Sunday (June 18) and was lost in an area around 900 miles from the coast, in waters around 13,000 feet deep.
According to the US Coast Guard noises believed to have come from those onboard the submersible were picked up on Tuesday and Wednesday, however as of today (Thursday) it is expected that oxygen levels will have reached near-zero.
As part of the ongoing recovery efforts, the RAF 99 Squadron with a C-17 will fly from RAF Lossiemouth to St John’s International Airport to transport specialist equipment which will assist in the rescue efforts. This will ensure that the equipment is moved rapidly and safely and decrease the time it takes for the deep-sea equipment to begin the searching for the Titan.
Group Captain Jim Lee, Station Commander at RAF Lossiemouth said: "The RAF stepped up today to support the vital work of the rescue efforts. We are proud to have played a small but vital part, of getting essential equipment and specialists to where it is needed."
