A veteran pilot believes he may have uncovered new evidence pointing to the possible location of Amelia Earhart's long-lost aircraft, using satellite imagery from Google Earth to identify a 39-foot object on a remote Pacific island long associated with the aviation mystery.
Justin Myers, who has spent nearly 25 years flying, says he detected the object on Nikumaroro, a small island in Kiribati situated between Hawaii and Fiji. The measurement of the object closely matches the length of Earhart's Lockheed 10-E Electra, the aircraft she was flying when she disappeared in 1937.
Google Earth Discovery on Nikumaroro
According to Popular Mechanics, Myers identified the object while examining satellite imagery of the island. He focused on a flat area where he noticed a dark shape that appeared to match the size and proportions of a small twin-engine aircraft.
The veteran pilot said his analysis was guided by his experience and by considering where a light aircraft might have made a forced landing under low fuel conditions. He also noted what he believes could be additional debris near the object, including a component that resembles an engine.
'I picked an area which would probably have been what I thought to be best considering the circumstances,' Myers said in a blog post. 'I zoomed in and there was a long sandy-looking shape.'
'To the left of the sandy section that had been eroded by the weather over many years was a dark coloured perfectly straight object. I used the measuring tool on Google Earth and to my surprise and mild little shiver it measured approximately 39 ft,' he added. 'It looked man-made, it looked like a section of aircraft fuselage, that was remarkable by itself, let alone the possibility it was Electra 10E NR16020, even though the measurements looked the same.'
While the findings have sparked renewed interest, Myers has stressed that the discovery is not definitive proof. He described the object as consistent with a 12-metre, twin-engine aircraft but did not confirm it as Earhart's plane.
Amelia Earhart's Disappearance in 1937
Amelia Earhart vanished in July 1937 during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe with navigator Fred Noonan. The pair were last heard from while flying over the Pacific Ocean, after which all contact was lost.
Earhart's disappearance remains one of the most enduring mysteries in aviation history. Despite extensive search efforts at the time, no confirmed wreckage of the Lockheed 10-E Electra was ever recovered.
Over the decades, researchers and historians have proposed multiple theories about what happened to the aircraft, including a possible crash landing on a remote island.
Why Nikumaroro is a Key Location
Nikumaroro has long been a focal point in investigations into Earhart's fate. The island is located in the central Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati.
Some theories suggest Earhart and Noonan may have attempted to land on or near the island after running out of fuel. The island's remote location and flat terrain have made it a plausible candidate for a forced landing site.
Previous research has also pointed to possible signs of human activity and aircraft-related debris in the area, though none has been definitively linked to Earhart.
Previous Research and the 'Taraia Object'
Interest in Nikumaroro intensified following a 1938 aerial photograph analysed by researchers at Purdue University. The image showed an anomaly, referred to as the 'Taraia Object', which some believe could be the remains of a downed aircraft.
Researchers described the object as offering 'very strong' evidence that it could be connected to Earhart's plane. However, as with Myers' findings, the evidence remains inconclusive without physical recovery.
Next Steps in the Investigation
A team of 15 researchers had planned to travel to Nikumaroro to investigate further, with a mission initially scheduled for November. The expedition was postponed until 2026.
The planned investigation aims to conduct on-site analysis and gather physical evidence to determine whether the object identified in satellite imagery is indeed an aircraft wreck.
Until then, the question of what happened to Amelia Earhart remains unanswered, even as new technology continues to shed light on one of aviation's greatest unsolved mysteries.
