{"id":23872,"date":"2026-10-02T17:14:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=23872"},"modified":"2026-10-02T17:20:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:20:34","slug":"earhart-expedition-update-crew-departs-from-purdue-university-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/Q4\/earhart-expedition-update-crew-departs-from-purdue-university-airport","title":{"rendered":"Earhart expedition update: Crew departs from Purdue University Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 The Taraia Object expedition, a joint search between the Archaeological Legacy Institute, Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue University to identify if a visual anomaly in a South Pacific island lagoon is the missing Lockheed Electra 10-E flown by Amelia Earhart, officially began Friday (Oct. 2) as three members of the expedition team departed from the Purdue University Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marc Hagle, William Wilson and Ren LaRocca departed about 2 p.m. en route to Los Angeles International Airport to meet up with other expedition members before subsequent flights to Fiji and Kiribati.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Three\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs <\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs <\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Three\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs<\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs<\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Three\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs<\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Three\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs<\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n\n
\n\n

Earhart team departs<\/h2>\n

Expedition members Marc Hagle, Ren LaRocca and William Wilson depart from the Purdue University Airport on Friday (Oct. 2). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n