Search for Amelia Earhart's Aircraft Postponed Due to Permit and Weather Hurdles

A planned mission to find Amelia Earhart's plane on a distant Pacific island has hit a snag and will now occur next year, Purdue University revealed on Monday.

Initially slated to travel in early November, researchers aimed to explore Nikumaroro Island to verify if an area known as the Taraia Object—a peculiar feature in past satellite images—could be linked to Earhart's plane. However, they are currently awaiting the necessary permits from local authorities, with the cyclone season also adding complications.

Richard Pettigrew of the Archaeological Legacy Institute assured, "Having faced and solved numerous obstacles over the past four years for this project, we're confident about overcoming this one too. Given the strong evidence pointing us to Nikumaroro, investigating the Taraia Object is vital. We will move ahead with a revised schedule shortly, so stay updated!"

Photos have shown the submerged object since 1938, a year after Earhart vanished while piloting her Lockheed 10-E Electra in an attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world.

Although some experts suspect the object in the lagoon on Nikumaroro, located between Australia and Hawaii, could be Earhart's plane, there are skeptics. Ric Gillespie of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery previously expressed doubts, mentioning a lack of findings in that location.

The investigative team from Purdue and the Archaeological Legacy Institute intends to capture images and deploy magnetometers and sonar to scan the area. Any discovered items will be excavated and brought up for examination.

Steve Schultz, a member of the expedition team and a senior vice president at Purdue, commented on the necessity of detailed preparation and numerous authorizations for oceanic expeditions.

"This effort has provided invaluable insights and fortified our resolve to proceed, aiming for a departure in 2026," Schultz conveyed.