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Amelia Earhart. AP Photo/PA

Amelia Earhart search expedition finds 'debris field' off Pacific island

High-res footage has revealed “a scattering of man-made objects” in location consistent with 1937 photo which sparked search.

A NEW EXPEDITION aiming to solve the mysterious disappearance of US aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart says that the group has reported encouraging results since it launched in early July.

The $2.2 million project led by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) involves a group of scientists, historians and salvagers working together to concentrate on a Pacific island in the search for Earhart.

Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe 75 years ago. One of the theories about their disappearance is that they crashed or crash-landed on a remote Pacific island, dying from their injuries or hunger.

TIGHAR’s expedition is focusing on an area of reef near the Kiribati atoll of Nikumaroro.

The area was chosen for the search after an October 1937 photo of the shoreline of the island showed a blurry image of what could have been the landing gear of a Lockheed Electra – the type of plane Earhart was piloting.

In its latest update, TIGHAR says that high-definition video footage captured underwater by the expedition has “revealed a scattering of man-made objects on the reef slope off the west end of Nikumaroro”.

“The newly-discovered debris field is in deep water offshore the location where an object thought to be Lockheed Electra landing gear appears in a photo taken three months after Amelia Earhart disappeared. Items in the debris field appear to be consistent with the object in the 1937 photo.”

Amelia Earhart search project prepares to launch new expedition >

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9 Comments
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    Mute Bobby
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Id say those under 60 are not much better.

    64
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jun 6th 2014, 4:47 PM

    I must be one of the 18%,ever since i stopped smoking 7 years ago i took to cycling excersize with a vengence, clocking up anything from 150/200 km per week on mostly coastal trips,as a form of excersize to help keep the body in shape it is very hard to beat, and would have no hesitation whatever in recommending it,just remember to wear proper hi vis clothing with helmet and a good pair of extra strong sole shoes used just for cycling shoes,and of course a good hibrid bike with strong tyres are a must.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
    Favourite Emily Elephant
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:41 PM

    You do 200k on a hybrid? Is your back made of titanium?

    14
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jun 6th 2014, 7:11 PM

    Well Emily i never had a problem with back strenght,and even hills are not a problem to me now,but as an ex marathon runner back in the eighties i know that regular exersize builds up mental as well as body strenght and things you once thought impossible you take them in your stride, cycling is easy compared to running marathons and of course the fact you enjoy it is a big plus.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Jun 6th 2014, 7:52 PM

    Fair play to you. When my commute went to 11k my back said fook that, and it’s been a road bike ever since. Apparently someone did the Wicklow 200 on a DublinBike last year. Insane.

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    Mute Good News Caravan
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:43 PM

    Old folk really are lazy. It takes an age to coax my grandma out the back garden for burpees and high intensity interval training.

    I take a carrot and stick approach whereby if she doesn’t go she gets her meals taken from her.

    Fair is fair after all

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    Mute Dee4
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:16 PM

    no reason not to be physically healthy through to your 70′s, use it lose it.

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    Mute Angelic Lestat
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    Jun 6th 2014, 4:57 PM

    I think the next generation or two will be much more physically active as they age.

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    Mute Marjorie Magee
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:55 PM

    Some will, but many will be too fat.

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:46 PM

    OK then.
    No smoking in the car.
    No giant sized drinks.
    Get yer cervix checked
    Embrace a Gay lifestyle
    Don’t drink the water from a private well
    Make eyer mind up, do you want a fry or a bale of briquettes
    Be careful flying with a certain American Airline
    I think that’s it ,now off for a walk and just hope the TV is not nicked while I’m out. :-)

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
    Favourite Sheik Yahbouti
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    Jun 6th 2014, 11:42 PM

    Spot on, Hallie, my man:-)

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    Mute Marjorie Magee
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Exercise is the key to a healthy old age. I am in my sixties and do a lot more than the recommended amount. I feel the same as I did 40 years ago and have no stiffness and soreness of joints. But you have to like doing it…..

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Jun 6th 2014, 11:40 PM

    I’m puzzled. In thread after thread the over sixties are vilified, or at least criticised for consuming health care, for drawing pensions (which they have worked for) and for having paid off their mortgages. Why the sudden interest in extending our lives? I had thought it could only be a couple of years before we received a cyanide pill in the post from Ms Burton and her Department of social protection (try saying that name with a straight face).

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:22 PM

    Nanny state.

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    Mute Marc O'Donoghue
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Fewer than half, not less than half.

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