Purdue-Led Expedition to Search for Amelia Earhart's Plane

The Archaeological Legacy Institute is leading an expedition to Nikumaroro Island in October 2026 to investigate the Taraia Object, a submerged feature believed to be Amelia Earhart's missing Lockheed Electra. Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation are partners in the effort, renewing a connection that dates to 1935 when Earhart served as a career counselor for women and an aeronautics adviser at the university, which also helped finance her aircraft.

The search for the Electra has been ongoing for two years. The project was originally planned for last October but was delayed awaiting proper approvals from the Kiribati government. The team, which left Los Angeles together on October 3, includes researchers, filmmakers, scuba divers, terrestrial and maritime archaeologists, Kiribati representatives, and three Purdue representatives: Senior Vice President Steve Schultz, alumna Sirisha Bandla, and alumnus Marc Hogle. Archaeological Legacy Institute president Richard Pettigrew will direct the expedition.

Target and Historical Context

The Taraia Object appears in satellite imagery of the lagoon near the tip of a sandy peninsula. Researcher Michael Ashmore said he "noticed the feature in Apple Maps satellite imagery in 2020." The Archaeological Legacy Institute argues the object's dimensions, shape, and reflective qualities are consistent with parts of the Lockheed Electra 10E and believes older imagery shows the same feature at the site.

This theory is contested. In a 2021 account, TIGHAR "suggested the feature was a fallen palm tree and root mass, washed into the lagoon during a storm." The upcoming expedition aims to resolve this by investigating what the team describes as a large submerged 'shiny metal thing' off the coast of Nikumaroro.

Logistics and Support

Logistics firm DHL announced on October 1, 2024, that it is the expedition's official logistics partner. The company is transporting about 1,650 pounds of equipment and supplies from Eugene, Oregon, and Pensacola, Florida, to Bonriki International Airport in Tarawa. The shipment includes diving equipment, navigation systems, solar panels, and communications equipment for the subsequent sea journey.

Scientific Approach and Safety

The team will use underwater drones, sonar, and magnetometers to examine the object. After a six-day boat trip from Tarawa, examinations of the mystery object and surrounding area will begin. The team said it will conduct thorough research and take every precaution before any excavation.

A magnetometer sonar will be used to view the object beneath the sea floor. If the site is deemed safe, divers may expose and identify part of the Taraia Object. Underwater excavation is planned as needed to examine material obscured by sediment. The expedition will begin its six-day sea travel from Tarawa to Nikumaroro Island on October 7, 2026, followed by days of fieldwork to investigate the target.