89 years after she disappeared: the find that may reveal what happened to Amelia Earhart

A 16-member expedition will set out in October for Nikumaroro Island in the Pacific Ocean, following an object seen in satellite images at the edge of a lagoon. The researchers will try to determine whether it is the remains of the Lockheed Electra in which pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in 1937. The expedition, approved by the Kiribati government, is a collaboration between Purdue University and the Institute for Archaeological Heritage.

The mystery of the disappearance of American pilot Amelia Earhart has taken a new turn: a 16-member expedition will set out in October for a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, following a find that researchers say may be the plane she flew in 1937. The expedition, which received approval from the Kiribati government, will reach Nikumaroro Island, a remote atoll, as part of a collaboration between Purdue University's research foundation and the Institute for Archaeological Heritage. The researchers will closely examine an object called the "Taraia object," which appears in satellite images like an aircraft resting at the edge of a shallow lagoon. The lead researcher, archaeologist Richard Pettigrew, expressed optimism and told USA Today: "I feel very confident about this. I'm excited." Earhart disappeared in 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe by flight, along with navigator Fred Noonan. The expedition is expected to sail for six days to reach the island, then clear a path through dense vegetation and use hydraulic digging equipment. However, the researchers emphasize that there is no proof that the find is an aircraft. If aluminum parts are discovered, the researchers plan to return to the site in 2027 for a full archaeological excavation.