Purdue-led team begins dredging search for Earhart's plane at Nikumaroro

Key points

• A 17-person expedition from Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute arrived at Nikumaroro Island on Oct. 12 to search for the 'Taraia Object' in a lagoon.
• The team will use hydraulic dredging to remove sediment from the object, which is believed to be the Lockheed Electra 10E that vanished in 1937.
• The search is hampered by giant coconut crabs, which force the crew to sleep on their ship, and strong El Niño weather conditions that may limit daily access to shore.
• Critics, including TIGHAR co-founder Ric Gillespie, argue the object is likely a dead pandanus tree, not aircraft wreckage, and that the plane lies in deep water off the island's western end.
• If the object is confirmed as the Electra, the team will not enter the site but will return the following year for a full-scale excavation and removal of the wreckage.

Background

Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared on July 2, 1937, while attempting to reach Howland Island from Lae, Papua New Guinea. The U.S. Navy concluded they ran out of fuel and crashed into the Pacific, but some theories suggest they landed on Nikumaroro and survived briefly as castaways. This is the 20th major search for the plane, following 12 expeditions by TIGHAR between 1989 and 2017 and a 2019 search by Robert Ballard and National Geographic that found no wreckage.

How outlets are covering it

USA TODAY and The Guardian emphasize the potential of the 'Taraia Object' being the Electra, citing satellite imagery and a metallic glint in aerial footage. BBC highlights logistical challenges, including coconut crabs and El Niño weather, and notes the object's location near the shore. The Telegraph source is an access error page and provides no content. TIGHAR, represented by Ric Gillespie, disputes the object's identity, calling it a likely dead tree and asserting that previous metal detector searches in 2001 and 2007 found nothing at the site.

Why it matters

The search could resolve a nearly 90-year-old mystery about one of America's most famous aviation pioneers. If the Electra is found, it would confirm the Nikumaroro theory and provide physical evidence of Earhart's final flight. The expedition also highlights the challenges of archaeological research in remote, environmentally sensitive locations, where weather and wildlife can significantly impact operations.

What to watch

The team will spend several days on Nikumaroro, focusing on transporting equipment, clearing vegetation, and using dredging equipment to inspect the Taraia Object. If the object is confirmed as the Electra, the team will not enter the site but will return the following year for a full-scale excavation. Purdue University is discussing an agreement with Kiribati to take custody of the wreckage if it is recovered.