Scientists share ‘evidence’ they have ‘finally discovered’ Amelia Earhart's lost plane after 88 years

Scientists have claimed to have evidence of Amelia Earhart's lost plane, nearly 90 years after her disappearance.

Researchers at Purdue University claimed that they know where the debris is located, after stumbling upon a snap from 2015.

Her disappearance has remained a mystery, despite some people claiming that they have found 'evidence' themselves.

Who is Amelia Earhart?

Earhart was one of the most famous explorers of her generation, breaking boundaries and even becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

While breaking a number of other aviation records, she also advocated for equal rights for women prior to her death.

Earhart was only the 16th woman to gain her aviation license, developing an obsession for flying as a child after taking a 2,000-foot flight with a stuntman at a fair.

Back in 1937, she tragically vanished while trying to fly across the globe in a plane alongside navigator Fred Noonan.

Earhart was a pioneering figure for women in the early-20th century (Getty Images)

What happened to Amelia Earhart?

The renowned pilot set out to circumnavigate the world, aiming to pass over the likes of Central and South America, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean in her Lockheed 10-E Electra plane.

She set out on 1 June 1937 on the 29,000-mile journey, and was making decent progress a month in. Along with Noonan, the pair set off from New Guinea for Howland Island, aiming to refuel after the 20-hour journey.

While the US Coast Guard helped them, it was suggested that Noonan didn't take crossing the International Date Line into consideration, hindering his celestial navigation method.

They then vanished and were never found again.

What have scientists discovered?

They claim that the debris is off the coast of Nikumaroro island (Taraia Object)

A fresh expedition has now been launched to find Earhart's plane debris, as scientists from Purdue University have claimed that new evidence points toward a location in Kiribati.

The satellite photo showed what looked to be the shape of the explorer's plane sticking out through the sand on the island of Nikumaroro.

Ironically, Purdue University were the one who'd funded Earhart's flight all those years ago, and this lead from a 2015 satellite image, which was taken after a tropical cyclone shifted the sand, could be significant.

Known as the Taraia object, it first became visible from a snap in April that year, following one of the most powerful storms in the region, uprooting several trees on the western shore, according to the Archaeology Channel.

What is the significance of the evidence?

A few clues have pointed towards the possibility of Nikumaroro being Earhart's final landing place, such as a piece of what is believed to have been her plane's landing gear was discovered three months after her disappearance.

Shoe fragments and several other items, including freckle cream, were also discovered on the island.

Richard Pettigrew, the executive director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute in Oregon, said that the size of the object matches her plane, and that the location on her planned flight path are where four of her emergency radio calls were made that night.

The previous discovery of tools and a medicine vial even suggests that Earhart could have been on the island.

Researchers believe that Earhart's plane is likely beneath the sand on the island (Getty Images)

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Pettigrew called it 'maybe the greatest opportunity ever to finally close the case.'

Steve Schultz, Purdue’s general counsel, said to NBC News: “We believe we owe it to Amelia and her legacy at Purdue to fulfill her wishes, if possible, to bring the Electra back to Purdue.”

Request for donations

The Archaeology Channel are planning to carry out a three-phase project on the Taraia Object, starting with a direct examination, before moving to a full-scale archaeological excavation and recovery of the remains.

They estimate the cost of the Phase-1 effort to be around $900,000 (£668,550), with Pledges so far totalling $400,000.

On the website, they state: "Those who contribute at least $25,000 will be offered a free berth on the larger ship we expect to bring to Nikumaroro in 2026, when we plan to conduct data-recovery excavations on the Electra."

They have asked those who are interested in making a pledge to contact Dr. Pettigrew directly at [email protected].

But if you're interested in making a direct contribution, and not a pledge, click here.