Researchers believe they may have discovered the remains of Amelia Earhart’s plane, possibly solving one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
Earhart disappeared in 1937 during an attempt to fly around the world. She was one of the most famous female pilots in history and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her plane vanished while flying over the Pacific with navigator Fred Noonan, and no confirmed trace of the aircraft had ever been found — until now.
On July 2, researchers announced they found what appears to be a plane-shaped object buried in the sand on Nikumaroro, a remote island in the Pacific nation of Kiribati. The image was taken in 2015 by satellite, but after a tropical storm shifted the sand, the object became more visible.
Experts say the object’s size and shape match Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra aircraft. The site is also near the location of her last recorded radio signals. American-made tools and a medicine vial were previously found on the island, supporting the theory that Earhart may have survived the crash and lived on the island for some time.
Purdue University, which originally sponsored Earhart’s flight, plans to send a team to the island in November to investigate further. “We believe we owe it to Amelia and her legacy to bring the Electra back to Purdue,” said Steve Schultz, a university official.
A Long-Standing Theory
Many experts believe that Earhart and Noonan may have missed their destination, Howland Island, due to a navigation error and instead landed near Nikumaroro, about 400 miles away.
There’s even a disturbing theory — reported by National Geographic — that Earhart may have died on the island and her remains were scattered by giant coconut crabs, which live on the island and are known to eat meat. In 1940, 13 bones were found there, and while initially believed to be male, some experts now think they could have belonged to a woman.
Still, not everyone agrees. Ric Gillespie, a researcher from a past expedition, believes the satellite image shows only a coconut tree root. But others, including archaeologist Richard Pettigrew, say the new evidence is stronger than ever. “This may be our best chance to finally solve the case,” he said.
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