A team of researchers from the Archaeological Legacy Institute and Purdue University has arrived at Nikumaroro Island in the Pacific Ocean to search for possible wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s plane. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
The team landed on Monday after a five-day voyage covering 830 nautical miles. They are conducting a five-day inspection of the Taraia Object, a structure spotted in satellite imagery in 2020.
The object is believed to be located just 10 feet from shore, in as little as five feet of water. The crew plans to use dredging equipment to examine it directly.
Key Facts
- The expedition is the first authorized visit to Nikumaroro in seven years.
- It marks the first visit to the Taraia Peninsula in over 15 years.
- Researchers will spend nights aboard the ship due to the presence of giant coconut crabs.
- The crabs can lift up to 28kg (62lbs) and have a leg span of up to one metre.
- They are known to drag and strip flesh from bodies in under two weeks, according to 2018 tests using pig carcasses.
Background: The Earhart Disappearance
Amelia Earhart vanished in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. She had flown from California through South America, Africa, and Asia, reaching Lae, Papua New Guinea, on 2 July 1937.
She and navigator Fred Noonan were en route to Howland Island, near Nikumaroro, to refuel. The plane disappeared without a trace. The official explanation is that communication problems led to fuel exhaustion and a crash into the ocean.
Why the Crabs Matter
Coconut crabs are the largest land-dwelling crustaceans in the world. They are active at night and hunt for small mammals, seabirds, and even live prey.
Several theories suggest Earhart may have survived a crash on the island before being consumed by the crabs. The crabs could have carried away her bones, which would explain the absence of human remains.
Challenges to the Expedition
Weather conditions are a major concern. The current El Niño event is the strongest ever recorded, potentially limiting daily access to shore.
Marine archaeologist Michael Krivor has warned that a weather pattern moving from east to west could interfere with safe transit through the island’s reef channels.
What to Watch Next
The crew plans to navigate through a narrow reef gap blasted by British forces in 1963—the last time the island was inhabited.
On the first day, they will transport equipment and clear vegetation. On Wednesday, they will search for magnetic metals. The final phase will involve sediment dredging near the Taraia Object.
The expedition leader, Rick Pettigrew, said in a blog post: “It is incredibly rewarding to be this close to completing our inspection of the Taraia Object and potentially solving, at long last, the outstanding mystery of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan more than 89 years ago.”
While the Taraia Object may be aircraft debris, some researchers remain sceptical. One theory suggests it is a collapsed tree rather than a plane.
For more on the search, see the original BBC report: BBC News: Crew searching for Amelia Earhart arrives at crab-infested island.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Amerikaanse pilote, vliegenier Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) in vliegoverall bij een… by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image source
