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Expedition to find Amelia Earhart's missing plane comes up empty
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Researchers investigating a mysterious object near Nikumaroro Island have concluded it is not the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's missing plane, but likely a collection of large trees coated with a carbonate veneer.
- The 17-member expedition led by Purdue University's Steve Schultz and the Archaeological Legacy Institute's Richard Pettigrew was hindered by severe weather and logistical challenges, limiting their time at the remote site.
- The Taraia Object, first spotted in satellite imagery in 2020 and visible in photos since 1938, was initially thought to be metal debris but was found to be natural material after on-site examination.
- Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in 1937 during an attempt to fly around the world; some researchers, including Pettigrew, believe they may have landed and survived for a time on Nikumaroro, though definitive evidence remains elusive.
- The search for Earhart's plane continues amid competing theories, with recent efforts supported by private donors and interest heightened by the recent declassification of related government records.
