Amelia Earhart disappearance: New expedition targets Nikumaroro Atoll

Researchers are launching a new expedition to the Nikumaroro Atoll in Kiribati to investigate a potential clue regarding the 1937 disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart. The mission focuses on a ten-meter-wide structure in a shallow lagoon known as the ‘Taraia object,’ which was clearly visible in satellite imagery following a 2015 cyclone. The object's dimensions roughly correspond to the length of Earhart's aircraft fuselage.

Scientists from Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) plan to use magnetometers, sonar technology, and photographic documentation to examine the site. The team also intends to use a hydraulic suction device to carefully uncover the structure and conduct systematic searches along the adjacent shoreline for debris. If the structure is confirmed to be part of the aircraft, it would represent a major discovery in aviation history.