Current Affairs

Who was Shahzada Dawood? One of Pakistan's wealthiest men who died aboard the Titanic submersible

June 23, 2023


STORY HIGHLIGHTSUS Coast Guard announced that the missing tourist submersible was involved in a catastrophic
implosion. Five people on board, including Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman
Dawood died in the accident. Hamish Harding (CEO of Action Aviation in Dubai),
Paul-Henri Nargolet, the French explorer, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush were also on the 
submersible.

Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman, are among the five people who died after their submarine, which had set out to tour the remains of the Titanic, lost connection thousands of feet underwater. Shahzada Dawood, 48, was one of the wealthiest men in Pakistan and a UK-based board member of the Prince's Trust charity. Dawood and his 19-year-old son boarded the tiny underwater craft to view the well-known Titanic wreck 12,500 feet underwater. In a press release, Engro said, "On Sunday, June 18, Mr Shahzada Dawood, Vice Chairman of Engro Corporation Limited, along with his son, Suleman, embarked on a journey to visit the remnants of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean." However, they lost signal in the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean, 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Shahzada's wife, Christina, and his daughter, Alina, have been waiting for any news of the duo.

Here's everything you need to know about Shahzada Dawood and his son.

Shahzada Dawood and his son

Shahzada Dawood, the man who died along with his teenage son after their submersible, moving towards the Titanic wreck, lost connection thousands of miles underwater, was the Vice Chairman of Engro Corporation. The company produces fertilisers, food, and energy. He had an M.Sc. in Global Texting Marketing from Philadelphia University, USA, and an LLB from Buckingham Univerity. He was also the Vice Chairman of Dawood Hercules Corporation, which makes chemicals. Born in Pakistan, Shahzada Dawood moved to the UK to study law at the University of Buckingham. The Dawood family are among the most prosperous clans in Pakistan. They have strong links to the UK. Shahzada lived with his wife, Christine, in a Surrey mansion. Christine is a life coach, and they have two children together, Suleman and Alina.

Titanic Tour Submarine

The submersible, before implosion, last pinged when it was directly above its destination. Five people are on board, including Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood. Hamish Harding (CEO of Action Aviation in Dubai), Paul-Henri Nargolet, the French explorer, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush were on board when the submersible imploded.

The submarine, owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, started its voyage around 4 am on Sunday. It was taking a crew of five people 12,500 ft underwater. However, the team lost communication with the mothership MV Polar Prince an hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent.