Titanic tourist submersible goes missing with search under way

A submersible craft used to take people to see the wreck of the Titanic has been missing in the Atlantic Ocean with its crew on board since Sunday, sparking a major search and rescue.

Contact with the submersible was lost about one hour and 45 minutes into the vessel's dive, the US coast guard said.

Tour firm OceanGate said it was exploring all options to get the crew back safely.

Government agencies and deep sea firms are helping the rescue operation.

OceanGate charges $250,000 (£195,612) a seat for expeditions to the Titanic, which lies some 3,800m (12,500ft) beneath the waves about 435 miles (700km) south of St John's, Newfoundland.

The missing craft is believed to be OceanGate's Titan submersible, a truck-sized sub that holds five people and usually dives with a four-day supply of oxygen.