With the fate of those on Titanic-bound submersible known, focus turns to cause of fatal implosion

This undated photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company’s Titan submersible. The investigation into what happened to the submersible was already underway and would continue in the area around Titanic where debris from the submersible was found, said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District. — OceanGate Expeditions via AP

The search for a missing Titanic-bound submersible has become an investigation and salvage mission that will take an indefinite amount of time, officials said, as tributes from around the world poured in for the five people killed when the vessel imploded deep in the North Atlantic.

The announcement Thursday that all aboard perished when the submersible imploded near the site of the iconic shipwreck brought a tragic end to a five-day saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the vessel known as the Titan.