{"id":24243,"date":"2026-10-12T10:16:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=24243"},"modified":"2026-10-12T10:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:16:10","slug":"earhart-expedition-update-crew-arrives-at-nikumaroro-launches-critical-phase-of-amelia-earhart-plane-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/Q4\/earhart-expedition-update-crew-arrives-at-nikumaroro-launches-critical-phase-of-amelia-earhart-plane-search","title":{"rendered":"Earhart expedition update: Crew arrives at Nikumaroro, launches critical phase of Amelia Earhart plane search"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NIKUMARORO, Kiribati \u2014 Following a five-day, 830-nautical-mile voyage across the remote South Pacific, the 17-person Taraia Object expedition team, supported by a 17-person boat crew, arrived Monday (Oct. 12) at Nikumaroro to start its investigation of a visual anomaly spotted in satellite imagery that may be what remains of Amelia Earhart\u2019s Lockheed Electra 10-E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marin Mainiku arrived at approximately 8 p.m. local time on the western side of the uninhabited atoll, part of the Phoenix Islands of the Republic of Kiribati. Nikumaroro is 17 hours ahead of Eastern time in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt 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,\u201d said Rick Pettigrew, executive director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) and leader of the expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expedition is the result of years of research on the Taraia Object hypothesis by Pettigrew and ALI, which builds on the castaway hypothesis established and documented by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery over the past nearly 40 years. Pettigrew approached Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation in February 2025 due to the university\u2019s historic connection to Earhart. Through the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research, the Purdue Research Foundation funded Earhart\u2019s Lockheed Electra \u201cFlying Laboratory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the expedition team arrived after sunset, no field operations took place immediately. Instead, the Marin Mainiku proceeded to the island\u2019s eastern end for calmer overnight sea conditions, and the team spent the evening making final preparations to go ashore at daybreak through the \u201cblasted channel,\u201d a man-made opening near the southwestern corner of the atoll\u2019s wide and imposing perimeter reef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nikumaroro is about 400 miles south of Howland Island, Amelia Earhart\u2019s intended destination in July 1937. (Archaeological Legacy Institute image\/Rick Pettigrew)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pettigrew said it has been seven years since the last authorized expedition set foot on Nikumaroro and more than 15 years since anyone has been on the Taraia Peninsula. While there, the team will also conduct biological and environmental surveys of the area in coordination with the Kiribati representatives on the expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first day on-site will focus on transporting equipment, clearing vegetation, and establishing staging operations at the beach and on the south side of the lagoon. Upon reaching shore, the team will divide into two teams, with one taking smaller transport boats through the Tatiman Passage, a natural opening on the island\u2019s western side, to access the lagoon and place buoys along the way to guide a return trip to the Marin Mainiku at the conclusion of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second team will begin marking and cutting a trail through the jungle from the landing site at the beach to a designated spot on the south side of the island\u2019s lagoon, where it will rendezvous with the boat team. Staging areas will be established on both ends of the jungle trail to support the first day\u2019s work, before the focus moves to the Taraia Peninsula on Wednesday (Oct. 14).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

The expedition team enjoys breakfast on the Marin Mainiku. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

From left: Boilermakers Sirisha Bandla, Steve Schultz and Marc Hagle eagerly anticipate reaching Nikumaroro. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Expedition team lead Rick Pettigrew, left, poses with Steve Schultz, Purdue general counsel, at the rail. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Represented by a blue dot, the Marin Mainiku approaches Nikumaroro. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Aaron Arrants, medic and safety officer, points to the navigation system to show the ship has arrived at Nikumaroro. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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