As the search for a Titanic submersible with five people onboard continues, a Canadian aircraft detected ‘banging’ sounds in 30-minute intervals coming from the area where the vessel disappeared, Rolling Stone reported.

According to the news outlet, internal e-mail updates received by Department of Homeland Security leadership read: “RCC Halifax launched a P8, Poseidon, which has underwater detection capabilities from the air.

“The P8 deployed sonobuoys, which reported a contact in a position close to the distress position.”

The message added: “The P8 heard banging sounds in the area every 30 minutes. Four hours later additional sonar was deployed and banging was still heard.”

It did not mention what time the banging sounds were heard or what was thought to have caused them but it stated that ‘the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre is working to find an underwater remote-operated vehicle through partner organizations to possibly assist.”

According to previous reports, the Navy’s manned rescue craft can only descent 2,000ft underwater. If the missing vessel were found close to the 13,000ft depth where the wreckage lay, remote-operated vehicle or underwater drone would be needed to reach them.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Center and the Boston Coast Guard reportedly declined to comment. The DHS, the US Coast Guard, and the US Fleet Forces Command also did not respond to Rolling Stone’s requests for comment.

In an e-mail sent on Tuesday afternoon, the Explorers Society said: “It is being reported that at 2 a.m. local time on site that sonar detected potential ‘tapping sounds’ at the location, implying crew may be alive and signaling.”

A memo updated by CNN also said that “additional acoustic feedback was heard and will assist in vectoring surface assets and also indicating continued hope of survivors.”

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