OceanGate Expeditions Submersible Goes Missing in Area of Titanic Wreck

Apparently, 5 persons onboard.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/19/titanic-tour...

Of note, the company’s statement was:

“Our entire focus is on the crew members in the submersible and their families”

I initially took this to suggest that this was perhaps a dive with only employees on board.

However, promotional videos from the company[1] promise they train tourists as “contributors”, so I think they’re likely blurring the line between paying customers and employees.

The same promotional video says: “This is not a ride at Disney. There’s real risk involved.”

Very much hoping for a happy ending, but it seems like that claim wasn’t just marketing hyperbole.

[1] https://youtu.be/Wi60tvRwRlE

Would Russia have sent some 'tourists' to grab this vessel from the crew? This is a speculation, but recent activity re Nordstream as well as vulnerable undersea communications cable in the Baltic and North America and my sure knowledge that Russia sees no limits on what it might do since it does not have many capable underwater craft?