Newly Declassified Files Renew Interest in Amelia Earhart Mystery

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. National Archives has released a significant batch of declassified documents related to famed aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 while attempting a round-the-world flight. This new information, made public on Nov. 14, includes 4,624 pages from various U.S. intelligence and military agencies.

Earhart, 39, went missing alongside her navigator Fred Noonan, 44, during the final leg of their journey between Papua New Guinea and Howland Island. Her last radio communication, transmitted at about 8:43 a.m. on July 2, 1937, has been recorded in the logs: “We are on the line 157 337 wl rept msg we wl rept…” Despite extensive searches, neither Earhart nor her Lockheed Electra aircraft has ever been found.

The newly released documents include a July 1937 radio log from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca, the last vessel to communicate with Earhart. The log notes multiple attempts to contact her aircraft, which were unsuccessful. Comments from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard emphasized that this batch provides insightful details about Earhart’s last known communications, weather conditions, and the potential search sites.

A portion of the files comprises military reports from the search operations, which covered nearly 250,000 square miles of ocean. Among the entries, a 1970 article mentioned a former Pan American Airways employee who claimed that Earhart survived the crash and sent a distress signal. However, many aviation experts believe this latest release is unlikely to provide new revelations about her disappearance.

Historically, the prevailing theory holds that Earhart and Noonan ran out of fuel and ditched their aircraft before reaching Howland Island. Earhart’s ambitious flight began on May 20, 1937, from Oakland, California, with aspirations to become the first female aviator to complete a global circumnavigation. She never reached her destination, and her disappearance has since captivated historians, leading to numerous books, films, and documentaries.

As interest in the mystery resurfaces, research teams are planning new expeditions to locate Earhart’s plane. A team from Purdue University recently postponed a planned investigation of the “Taraia Object,” a shape seen in satellite imagery that some speculate could be her aircraft. The mission, set for early November, has been delayed until 2026, pending permits and the arrival of cyclone season.

Ongoing studies include using sonar and magnetometer technology to analyze the lagoon where the object is located. Ric Gillespie, an aviation recovery expert, has previously expressed skepticism about the findings, stating that past examinations of the site yielded no evidence of the missing aircraft. Nevertheless, the fascination with Earhart’s saga continues as researchers aim to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.