Amelia Earhart Search Resumes After Storms Delay Expedition
Researchers have returned to Nikumaroro Island to investigate a potential object of interest in the disappearance of the famed aviator.
A search for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane has resumed on Nikumaroro Island after severe weather forced researchers to halt operations for three days. The expedition, which aims to solve the mystery of the aviator's 1937 disappearance, is investigating an object spotted in aerial imagery in the island's lagoon.
The team arrived at the uninhabited atoll, part of Kiribati, last week. Their work involves an underwater survey of the area, followed by probing underwater objects and dredging sediment. However, strong winds and rough seas, influenced by El Niño conditions in the Pacific, initially prevented the commencement of the second phase of the investigation. The weather cleared on Sunday, allowing researchers to resume their work on land.
"We are finally getting off the ship and able to land on Nikumaroro," said Sirisha Bandla, a technology specialist on the expedition, in a video update from the research vessel Marin Mainiku. "The crew's really excited."
Earhart vanished in July 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in her twin-engine Lockheed Electra. Her last known destination before disappearing was Howland Island, a remote coral island near Nikumaroro, where she intended to refuel. One prevailing theory suggests Earhart may have unintentionally navigated to Nikumaroro, ditched her plane, and died as a castaway.
Images of the so-called "Taraia Object," visible in photography dating back to 1938, show what could be the remnants of a small aircraft in shallow waters. However, some explorers remain skeptical, suggesting the object might be a fallen tree.
Previously unseen reconnaissance images of Nikumaroro from 1938, published by New Zealand's Air Force Museum, show the beached wreck of the SS Norwich City, a merchant vessel that ran aground in 1929. While the Taraia Object is not clearly visible in these images, Purdue University, which is leading the expedition with the US-based Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI), suggested the Norwich City wreck might lend credence to the castaway theory. There are accounts of a radio transmission shortly after Earhart's disappearance that mentioned "New York City," which proponents of the castaway theory interpret as a potential mishearing of Earhart stating her location as near the Norwich City.
Due to the three-day weather delay, the expedition's duration has been extended to ensure completion of fieldwork. The team has not yet released any findings regarding the Taraia Object. ALI director Rick Pettigrew stated that the team is aware of global interest and will share results "as soon as we are able." Purdue had previously indicated that identifying the object could take only a few days.
This expedition follows previous unsuccessful attempts to locate Earhart's plane. In 2024, sonar imaging suggested a possible find near Howland Island, which was later identified as a rock formation. An expedition in 2019, investigating a photograph that appeared to show landing gear near Nikumaroro, also yielded no results.
