An expedition on behalf of Purdue University and Archaeological Legacy Institute researchers to locate Amelia Earhart’s elusive lost airplane, which was set to kick off in November, has been delayed, according to a news release.
Expedition Postponed Until Next Year
University researchers were scheduled to head to remote Nikumaroro Island early next month to investigate what’s known as the Taraia Object, a visual anomaly which has been picked up by satellite imagery for decades. But because of the impending cyclone season, as well as permits which are still pending approval, the team has postponed the expedition until 2026.
‘We Have to Go to Nikumaroro’
“We’ve overcome other challenges to this project over the past four years, and we will get past this one, too,” said Richard Pettigrew, executive director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute. “Because of the compelling evidence we have in front of us, we have to go to Nikumaroro and get a close look at the Taraia Object. Rest assured that we will do just that, so stay tuned! We will have a revised project schedule worked out soon.”
“We have gained valuable insights throughout this process and are very confident and resolved to continue this quest with a planned 2026 departure,” said Steve Schultz, Purdue University’s senior vice president and general counsel. He added that “maritime expeditions require thorough preparation and numerous clearances.”
Some Doubt It’s Earhart’s Plane
The Tarai Object is located in a lagoon on Nikumaroro, which rests roughly halfway between Australia and Hawaii, and scientists say there is “very strong” evidence indicating that it’s the long-lost aircraft. Earhart went missing in 1937 alongside her navigator, Fred Noonan, as she attempted to become the first female aviator to circle the world. However, some doubt that the object is actually Earhart’s plane. “We’ve looked there in that spot, and there’s nothing there,” Ric Gillespie, executive director of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, told NBC News in July.
