A tragedy unfolded this week before the eyes of the world. A deep sea submersible, the 5-person Titan, descended to the ocean floor on Sunday to view the 111-year-old wreck of the Titanic. The timeline of what was known when, as revealed in the press and that which was known in official channels, however, were two entirely different things.

Despite knowing that the craft was lost on Sunday, the government narrative persisted in telling the story of a search and rescue, allowing for hope and optimism even after the tragedy, and the loss of five lives, was known to the Biden administration.

Within 45 min of its descent, the sub lost contact, and concern for the crew, including a father and his 19-year-old son, filled hearts and minds. Pages were devoted to emerging facts and speculation. 

But now it turns out that the US Navy and Coast Guard knew that the sub was most definitely lost within hours of it losing contact. A "search and rescue" operation was staged anyway, and lasted through Thursday.

Sunday

The OceanGate sub, carrying Shahaza Dawood, his son Suleman, Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Norgeolet, and Stockton Rush, descended to the depths of the Titanic, about 435 miles off the southern coast of Newfoundland. The sub carried a four-day emergency oxygen supply.

On Sunday, shortly after the craft lost contact, the US Navy detected an explosion. They have deep sea listening equipment that they use to track enemy subs and crafts, and it was with this system that they heard what they believed was the destruction of the craft.

The Navy gave this information to the US Coast Guard, conducting operations out of Boston, Massachusetts. This information was not revealed to the public.

Monday

"We anticipate there is somewhere between 70 and the full 96 hours available at this point," Rear Admiral John Mauger of the Coast Guard told media at a press conference, per the BBC.

Mauger said further that the Coast Guard was making use of two aircraft, a submarine and sonar buoys to search for the missing submersible. The remote area, he said, was making the search difficult. 

The rescue teams, Mauger said, were "taking this personally," and working hard to bring everyone "home safe."

The Coast Guard knew by then that the craft was lost for good, but told press that they were hoping everyone came "home safe."

Tuesday

Rolling Stone broke the story that "banging" was detected by a Canadian aircraft in "30-minute intervals coming from the area where the divers disappaeared." This per an "internal email" obtained by Rolling Stone, sent by Biden's Department of Homeland Security. Biden's DHS leaked to Rolling Stone.

"RCC Halifax launched a P8, Poseidon, which has underwater detection capabilities from the air," the DHS e-mails read, per Rolling Stone. "The P8 deployed sonobuoys, which reported a contact in a position close to the distress position. The P8 heard banging sounds in the area every 30 minutes. Four hours later, additional sonar was deployed and banging was still heard."

The Navy was working to recover the craft, Rolling Stone said, and a ROV, or remote operated vehicle, would be deployed as well "to reach" the divers.

They noted further that "The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, declined to comment on the reported 'banging” sounds.' The U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and the DHS did not respond to requests for comment." 

They cited the US Coast Guard statement, which gave further hope, in that the Canadian aircraft "detected underwater noises in the search area."