Banging noises offer a glimmer of hope as a massive search continues for the missing Titanic sub.

Underwater noises have been detected in the search area for the missing submersible, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

It is understood Canadian aircraft helping with search operations “detected underwater noises in the search area”.

However, the U.S. Coast Guard said subsequent searches “yielded negative results”.

“Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area. As a result, ROV operations were relocated in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises.

“Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue,” the Coast Guard said in a tweet.

The company behind the carbon-fibre submersible, OceanGate Expeditions said they had no information to add on the matter.

The submersible, named Titan, was carrying a pilot, a British adventurer, two members of a Pakistani family and a Titanic expert.

The vessel was travelling to the site of the RMS Titanic an hour and 45 minutes after it had submerged.

Unlike traditional submarines, a submersible is launched from another vessel, often known as a ‘mother’ or ‘home’ vessel.