Argentina’s navy says sounds didn’t come from missing sub
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Sounds detected by probes deep in the South Atlantic on Monday did not come from an Argentine submarine that has been lost for five days, the country’s navy said Monday, dashing newfound hope among relatives of the 44 sailors aboard.
Navy spokesman Enrique Balbi told reporters that the “noise” was analyzed and experts determined it was likely “biological.” He said the sounds did not come from tools being banged against the hull of a submarine as was previously reported by some media.
“We all had hope, but unfortunately this comes from believing sources that are not trustworthy,” Balbi said. “Some sources were saying that this was banging on the hull in Morse code signals.”
The noise was heard by two Argentine navy ships about 220 miles (360 kilometres) from the Argentine coast and at a depth of about 650 feet (200 metres). A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft was sent to help in the effort to isolate the source of the sounds.