A recent expedition to Nikumaroro Atoll in the central Pacific has concluded that an object previously suspected to be wreckage from Amelia Earhart’s lost plane was in fact a cluster of washed-up trees. The team, led by researchers from Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute, was unable to uncover new evidence to resolve the nearly 90-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of the pioneering aviator and her navigator, Fred Noonan.

Earhart and Noonan vanished in 1937 during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe along the equator, prompting an extensive search that remains one of the largest air and sea operations in history. Nikumaroro, an uninhabited coral atoll in the island nation of Kiribati, has been a focal point for those investigating the fate of the pair, as previous expeditions have uncovered artifacts such as a 1930s-era woman’s shoe, remnants of a possible castaway camp, and fragments of vintage cosmetic jars.

The latest mission was prompted by satellite images taken in 2020 which appeared to show an elongated, white object in the shallow waters near a sandy outcrop called the Taraia Peninsula. While some researchers initially identified the anomaly as a fallen tree, Richard Pettigrew, head of the Archaeological Legacy Institute, highlighted additional aerial footage that suggested a metallic reflection, raising hopes that the object might be related to Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10-E aircraft.

Overcoming rough seas and weather delays, a 17-person crew reached Nikumaroro and conducted four days of onsite research, including metal detection and photographic surveys. However, by the conclusion of their investigation, the team determined the object to be a natural formation—a collection of large tree trunks deposited along the sandspit. According to Purdue University, the reflective surfaces observed were not metal but a carbonate coating resulting from the coral environment, creating a shiny, concreted appearance.

The team faced logistical challenges, including having to camp offshore due to the presence of large and inquisitive coconut crabs, locally known as “robber crabs.” Purdue University, which partially sponsored the trip and has historic ties to Earhart—who once trained female pilots there and was funded by the institution to purchase her airplane—expressed disappointment but framed the findings as a meaningful contribution to the ongoing investigation.

This outcome adds to the growing body of evidence discounting various theories about Earhart’s disappearance, including claims that she was captured by Japanese forces or that she survived and assumed a different identity. Despite the setbacks, many researchers remain committed to uncovering new information as the search for definitive answers continues nearly nine decades after the aviator’s final flight.