The article doesn’t make it clear (it could be better written) but my guess is that the card was actually found intact in the wreckage that they recovered back when the sub went down.
The various documentaries by Netflix, Nat Geo, etc. only came out a few months ago as the USCG investigation wrapped up. Those revealed that they had recovered personal belongings from the pockets of one or two of the victims. I don’t think those details were publicly known (or at least reported on) until the documentaries came out. This is likely just a similar case of more evidence coming to light.
thepompe@ttrpg.network 10 hours ago
Would’ve been crazy if the money wasted on finding this went towards repairing rural America.