- Two of the members aboard the missing Titanic submersible are from one of Pakistan's wealthiest families.
- According to the BBC, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a father and son, are aboard the vessel.
- Shahzada Dawood helps run an investment firm, a fertilizer company, and is based in London.
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 multi-millionaire, 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.
The vessel, named Titan and owned by OceanGate Expeditions, was set to show passengers the Titanic shipwreck up close, but communication was lost with the vessel just under two hours into its journey.
Passengers paid $250,000 for the trip to venture close to 13,123 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?
According to the BBC, Shahzada Dawood is the vice chairman of Engro Corporation, one of Pakistan's largest fertilizer companies.
Shahzada Dawood and his family had traveled from their home in London to Canada for the month prior to him and his son embarking on the Titan. Shahzada Dawood had an interest in exploring natural habitats and renewable energies, the BBC reported.
Shahzada Dawood also runs the telecom and agriculture-focused Dawood Hercules Corporation Limited, as well as the Dawood Foundation, which is 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.
According to The Daily Beast, the elder Dawood is an involved member of the British Asian Trust, a charity started by the British Royal Family.
His son, Suleman Dawood, is a student in London. According to the BBC, Suleman Dawood is a "big fan of science fiction literature and learning new things," and also enjoys playing volleyball.
"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 Insider's request for comment.