Search for Amelia Earhart’s Missing Plane Nears Possible Discovery

A team of American researchers is on the verge of possibly locating Amelia Earhart’s missing plane near a remote South Pacific island. The expedition, led by Steve Schultz of Purdue University and Richard Pettigrew from the Archaeological Legacy Institute, is focusing on the potential discovery of Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10-E.

Pettigrew commented on the ongoing efforts, saying, “We’re examining the land and searching for artifacts that could be linked to Amelia Earhart.” Schultz added, “We remain in the data-gathering phase.” Their current efforts target a lagoon near Nikumaroro, where they are investigating the Taraia Object. This anomaly appeared in aerial photographs as early as 1938 and gained attention with satellite images in 2020, prompting the new mission.

The journey to this remote location required the 17-member team to spend five days at sea. Despite the distance, they are optimistic about determining the presence of Earhart’s plane within days. Pettigrew explained, “Our next step involves analyzing the gathered data and using a hydraulic dredge to clear sediment.”

Amelia Earhart went missing on July 2, 1937, during her attempt to become the first person to navigate around the equator. Both she and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared 22,000 miles into their journey. Nikumaroro, part of Kiribati, lies roughly halfway between Australia and Hawaii, around 400 miles southeast of Howland Island, the believed destination of Earhart’s expedition.

The mystery of their disappearance remains unsolved. Pettigrew stated, “We are the only ones to have devised such a plan.”