June 19 (Reuters) - A submarine on a tourism expedition to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has gone missing off the coast of southeastern Canada, according to the private company that operates the vessel.
The U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Media reports said the Coast Guard has launched search-and-rescue operations.
In order to visit the wreck, passengers climb inside Titan, a five-person submersible, which takes about two hours to descend to the Titanic.
The story has been immortalized in non-fiction and fiction books as well as the 1997 blockbuster movie "Titanic".
Persons:
OceanGate, Joseph Ax, Njuwa Maina, Kanishka Singh, Ismail Shakil, Doina
Organizations:
OceanGate Expeditions, U.S . Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Thomson
Locations:
Canada, U.S, St, John's, Newfoundland