Callum Jones
Experts have found potential 'smoking-gun proof' that could finally solve the Amelia Earhart mystery.
In the 1930s, Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, catapulting her to fame for her incredible achievement.
She went on to become an advocate for equal rights for women and helped establish the Ninety-Nines, an organization supporting women in aviation.
But in 1937, the pilot went missing during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe by air, with Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappearing over the Pacific Ocean. Their bodies and aircraft were never recovered.
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Earhart was pronounced dead in 1939 after an extensive search, but there has long been speculation and conspiracy theories as to what happened to her.
Some claimed Earhart and Noonan had died after their plane plummeted down in the sea, whereas others believe they may have managed to land on a Pacific island before passing away there.
Now, newly discovered aerial photos that were taken back in 1938 provide 'very strong' evidence that a mysterious anomaly found on a deserted island may be that of Earhart's plane.
While experts believe this provides further proof, a 15-person crew from Purdue and the Archeological Legacy Institute (ALI) will begin a three-week expedition to the island of Nikumaroro on November 4.
Dr Richard Pettigrew, director of ALI, said: "Finding Amelia Earhart’s aircraft would be the discovery of a lifetime. Other evidence already collected by the International Group of Historic Aircraft Recovery establishes an extremely persuasive, multifaceted case that the final destination for Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, was on Nikumaroro. Confirming the plane wreckage there would be the smoking-gun proof."
The team of researchers are hoping for more answers before they return home from the expedition on November 21.
Senior Vice President at Purdue University, Steve Schultz, added: "A successful identification would be the first step toward fulfilling Amelia’s original plan to return the Electra to West Lafayette after her historic flight.
"Additional work would still be needed to accomplish that objective, but we feel we owe it to her legacy, which remains so strong at Purdue, to try to find a way to bring it home."
Last week, Donald Trump ordered that documents on Earhart be released.
The president penned to Truth Social: "I have been asked by many people about the life and times of Amelia Earhart, such an interesting story, and would I consider declassifying and releasing everything about her, in particular, her last, fatal flight!
"She was an Aviation Pioneer, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and achieved many other Aviation firsts."