Researchers who travelled to a remote Pacific island to investigate a possible clue to Amelia Earhart’s disappearance believe the suspected aircraft wreckage was probably trees.
The object was first identified in satellite imagery in 2020 and had raised the possibility that it could help resolve the long-running mystery surrounding the pilot and her aircraft. Researchers visited the island to examine whether the feature seen from above represented physical remains of the plane.
After investigating the site, the team concluded that the object was likely formed by trees rather than wreckage. The finding means the satellite image has not provided confirmation of what happened to Earhart’s aircraft.
The expedition focused on testing the interpretation of the imagery in the remote Pacific location. With the feature now considered more likely to be vegetation, the mystery of Earhart’s disappearance remains unresolved on the evidence described.