The U.S. Coast Guard has dismissed rumors of leaked photographs showing the remains of OceanGate’s Titan submersible, clarifying that there are no public images of the wreckage, according to The Associated Press.

The U.S. Coast Guard has refuted claims circulating on social media that alleged photographs of the wreckage of OceanGate’s Titan submersible had been leaked online. The Coast Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that no public images of the debris have been released thus far.

In fact, two of the photos being shared actually depict the remains of the Titanic from 2004, while the third photo originates from a parody Twitter account that generates AI-created images.

The tragic incident involving the submersible occurred as it approached the site of the Titanic wreckage, resulting in the death of all five individuals on board. The Coast Guard stated that any hope of finding survivors had been extinguished when the submersible imploded near the North Atlantic wreck site, and debris was discovered approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic.

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In the aftermath of the announcement, misinformation began to spread on social media platforms in both English and Spanish. Facebook posts claimed to show images of the Titan submersible’s remains, accompanied by misleading captions. However, the Coast Guard, along with the U.S. Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard, and OceanGate, confirmed that no photos or videos of the wreckage have been released.

The Coast Guard explicitly stated that unless the images are shared through official press releases or their verified social media channels, they remain unconfirmed. Upon conducting a reverse image search, the AP discovered that two of the photos, showing human objects covered in sand, were taken in 2004 near the Titanic and do not depict the Titan submersible wreckage. The third photo, featuring a boat in the sand, was sourced from the Twitter account @prince_of_fake, which identifies as a parody and frequently shares AI-generated images.

OceanGate’s previous expeditions to the Titanic site, with 46 people aboard their submersibles in 2021 and 2022, were successful. However, the recent incident resulting in the loss of the Titan submersible and the lives of its occupants has sparked widespread interest and misinformation online.

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Efforts are being made by organizations like The Associated Press to combat the dissemination of false information. Fact-checking initiatives aim to provide accurate context and combat misleading content that circulates on various platforms. The AP’s verification process ensures that information is reliably sourced and reported, fostering a more informed public discourse.