BUFFALO, N.Y. — A business in Western New York is now ready to get involved in the search efforts for a missing submersible vehicle with five people aboard in the North Atlantic Ocean.
On Tuesday afternoon, equipment was flown out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport from Pelagic Research Services which is based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But it also has storage and office space in a business/industrial site in East Aurora.
The equipment was carried aboard three large C-17 Air Force and Air National Guard cargo planes which landed at BNIA. 2 on Your Side photographer Bill Boyer shot a video Tuesday afternoon as one of the C-17s lifted off on its flight to St John's, Newfoundland in the Canadian Maritimes coastal area.
An airport official told us that the plane was carrying a seven-foot-long submersible vehicle called the Odysseus 6K. It is remotely piloted by technicians through a cable connected to a control room in a container aboard a ship.
We could also see an equipment container labeled 'Pelagic Research" being loaded aboard a third plane.
A spokesman told us the PRS submersible can dive down to 19,000 feet as it withstands tremendous pressure in the deep ocean.
We are told PRS staffers flew out on Monday to make preparations for their potential deployment in the rescue effort.
On its website, Pelagic Research Services shared that it has been contacted to help look for the submersible which went missing after an exhibition of the Titanic wreckage.
Pelagic Research Services (PRS) has been contacted by OceanGate Expeditions to provide critical support in the current rescue operation of the submersible Titan in the North Atlantic.
Currently, PRS is in the process of mobilization as quickly and as safely as possible to assist in the search and rescue effort. All questions and inquiries should be directed to OceanGate for all information and updates.
PRS is committed to helping bring the best possible outcome to this situation. Our sincere thoughts and wishes are with all the families, friends, and rescue personnel of those affected by this emergency.
PRS is an ocean services company that specializes in sub-sea research, repair, and recovery tools as well as planning expeditions. With attached skids, It can also be used for deep-sea mining of minerals on the ocean floor.
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