Underwater Search for Amelia Earhart’s Missing Aircraft Begins

Published 7 hours agoon October 13, 2026

Image: Amelia Earhart pictured with her Lockheed Electra, the aircraft that disappeared over the Pacific in July 1937. Image: NASA historical collection / Public Domain.

An expedition hoping to solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries has arrived at a remote Pacific island, where underwater archaeologists are preparing to investigate an object that could be the remains of Amelia Earhart’s missing aircraft.

The 17-member expedition, supported by Purdue University and led by the Archaeological Legacy Institute, reached Nikumaroro in the Republic of Kiribati on Monday, 12 October, following a five-day voyage across the Pacific.

Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared in July 1937 while attempting to fly around the world. Despite numerous searches, neither their aircraft nor conclusive evidence of their fate has ever been found.

The latest expedition is focusing on an underwater anomaly known as the ‘Taraia Object’, first identified in satellite imagery in 2020 and subsequently recognised in aerial photographs dating back to 1938.

Researchers believe the object, lying close to the shoreline in the island’s lagoon, could potentially be the remains of Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10-E. However, others have suggested it may simply be a fallen tree.

The team plans to use magnetometers, sonar and underwater archaeological techniques to investigate the site. If necessary, sediment will be carefully removed using specialised dredging equipment to reveal what lies beneath.

The suspected object is thought to be just three metres from shore, potentially beneath as little as 1.5 metres of water, although the depth of accumulated sediment remains unknown.

Having arrived after sunset on Monday, the expedition is now beginning its fieldwork, with investigations around the Taraia Peninsula scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October.

The team expects to spend approximately five days on the island, weather and sea conditions permitting.

For now, the mystery remains unsolved, but researchers hope their underwater investigation may finally establish whether the elusive object is connected to Earhart’s disappearance nearly 90 years ago.

Source: Purdue University – Earhart expedition arrives at Nikumaroro, 12 October 2026

Jane Morgan

Jane’s lifelong love for the ocean began in childhood and has shaped the course of her life and career. After learning to dive in 1991, she spent much of the '90s teaching scuba and working on marine conservation projects in the Philippines and Borneo. A chance encounter with a film camera on a dive trip to Egypt in 2001 ignited a passion for underwater photography, inspiring her to leave the corporate world and pursue a full-time career in dive travel and photojournalism. Since then, her work has been published in a wide range of national and international magazines, books, and newspapers. She has filmed underwater for the BBC, judged major photography competitions, and received numerous accolades—including the prestigious Plongeur d'Or at the Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine. In 2009, Jane became a freelance photojournalist, and in 2011 completed a BA (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, where she now works as a Dive Safety Officer. Based in Cornwall, Jane dives locally year-round and is passionate about showcasing the rich marine life found in UK waters. As a proud ambassador for Dynamic Nord and Fathoms Free, she actively supports marine conservation initiatives and advocates for ocean protection through her storytelling. In her newest role with Scubaverse, Jane combines her love of travel, diving, and storytelling—sharing experiences from around the world to inspire others to explore, protect, and connect with the underwater world.

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