US military plane leaves Jersey without vital kit for Titanic sub search

Thursday 22 June 2023

A "glitch" while loading equipment for the Titanic sub search onto a US military plane has forced the plane to depart from Jersey Airport without the necessary kit, after the crew ran out of flying hours.

After taking off from Ramstein in Germany this morning, a Globemaster – a large US Air Force transport jet – touched down in Jersey Airport around 05:15.

The military plane was in the island collect a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) owned by Magellan, a Channel Islands-based company which had previously been involved in producing images of the Titanic wreck.

However, according to Magellan's CEO, there was a "glitch" – in which the pallets became warped – while loading the kit which delayed the operation, and the crew have been forced to leave as they were running out of flying hours.

The aircraft left Jersey at about 16:30, and a new Globemaster C17 is on its way to replace it.

Pictured: The Globemaster C17 leaving Jersey this afternoon.

A massive search and rescue effort is continuing in the North Atlantic after the submersible Titan, which is exploring the wreck of the Titanic and had five people on board, went missing deep under the ocean on Sunday.

Contact with the crew was lost shortly after the submersible began its dive. There is limited oxygen on board, and supplies were due to run out today.

The ROV was awaiting approval to leave Jersey to join the rescue effort for a submersible that went missing in the Atlantic earlier this week, but the US government reportedly issue stopped the plan from going ahead at that time.

The equipment from Jersey will now take about 48 hours to get to the site – which is beyond the timeline given for air for the passengers.

Pictured: Images of the Titanic wreck previously taken by Magellan.