Argentina abandons rescue mission for crew on missing submarine

Argentina Navy formally ended its rescue operation for the 44 crew on the missing submarine, but will continue to search for the vessel with international assistance, a navy spokesperson said on Thursday.

Navy spokesperson Enrique Balbi said twice the time for possible rescue have passed, the vessel search will continue but “there will be no people saved.”

The statements came two weeks after the ARA San Juan went missing. The submarine had a seven-day supply of air when it reported its last position in the South Atlantic on November 15.

The crew had been ordered to return to a naval base in Mar del Plata after reporting water had entered the vessel through its snorkel.

Balbi said 28 ships, nine planes and 4,000 people from 18 countries were involved in the search covering 557,000 nautical miles – more including radar monitoring.

A noise that could have been the submarine's implosion the same day contact was lost was detected by international organizations, said the Argentinean Navy on November 23. Argentinean President Mauricio Macri ordered a probe into the issue on November 24.

(AP&REUTERS)