- Two members aboard the missing Titanic submersible are from one of Pakistan's wealthiest families.
- Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a father and son, are aboard the vessel, according to the BBC.
Two of the five passengers aboard a submersible vessel that went missing while attempting to reach the Titanic are members of one of Pakistan's wealthiest families.
Shahzada Dawood, a British-Pakistani multimillionaire, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, are aboard the Titan submersible, according to the BBC. Rescue crews are currently trying to locate the vessel — which is running out of oxygen.
On June 18, 2023, a submersible vessel carrying five tourists bound for the Titanic shipwreck went missing.
Titan, the vessel owned by OceanGate Expeditions, was set to take passengers for a close look at the Titanic shipwreck, but communication with the vessel was lost just under two hours into its journey.
Passengers paid $250,000 for the trip to venture more than 13,000 feet deep into the ocean. Other passengers on board include the vessel company's founder and pilot, a British Billionaire, and a French Titanic expert known as "Mr. Titanic."
Who are Shahzada and Suleman Dawood?
Shahzada Dawood is the vice chairman of Engro Corporation, one of Pakistan's largest fertilizer companies, according to the BBC.
The BBC reported that the Dawood family traveled to Canada from London a month before Shahzada and Suleman embarked on the Titan. Shahzada Dawood had an interest in exploring natural habitats and renewable energies, according to the BBC.
Shahzada Dawood also runs the telecom and agriculture-focused Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited as well as the Dawood Foundation, an organization focused on education access in Pakistan. Shahzada Dawood's net worth is not currently known.
Shahzada Dawood is on the board of trustees of the SETI Institute in California, which researches extraterrestrial life, per the AP.
He was also an involved member of the British Asian Trust, a charity started by the British Royal Family, According to the Daily Beast.
His son, Suleman Dawood, is a student in London. Suleman Dawood is a "big fan of science fiction literature and learning new things" and also enjoys playing volleyball, according to the BBC.
"We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety while granting the family privacy at this time," the Dawood family told the Associated Press in a statement. "The family is well looked after and are praying to Allah for the safe return of their family members."
The Dawood Foundation did not immediately return a request for comment.