Purdue president: Purdue would like to lead expedition to retrieve Earhart's plane
Purdue President Mung Chiang told a group of alumni that Purdue researchers would like to lead an expedition to retrieve what's believed to be the long-missing plane of Amelia Earhart and suggested Purdue has an ownership stake that might allow it to be returned to campus.
Chiang, speaking at a fundraising event Friday night in Boston, told the group a related announcement will be made this week. A Purdue spokesman on Monday would not confirm details, saying, "but there will be more to share shortly."
Earhart became a visiting professor at Purdue in 1935, and she's one of Purdue's most famous former staff members. A New York Times headline from 1936 proclaimed, "MISS EARHART TO GET 'FLYING LABORATORY'; Purdue Announces $50,000 Fund to Provide a Special Plane for Her Researches."
On July 2, 1937, she disappeared over thePacific Oceanwhile attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world.
After several unsuccessful searches for the missing plane over the years, in early 2024, Deep Sea Vision, a marine robotics company in South Carolina, made headlines when it reported that scans produced a blurry sonar image that may beEarhart's Lockheed 10-E Electra deep in the Pacific Ocean.
Alexandra Weliever, a 2021 Purdue alumni who was at the event Friday night, said Chiang told his audience that when the new terminal at the Purdue Airport opens in August as announced earlier, it will be named after Earhart.
"We believe we've found some remains of her plane," Weliever quoted the Purdue president. "An expedition will be made and so we'd like to be part of that. ... We'd love to help lead the expedition if we can."
Tony Romeo, Deep Sea Vision's CEO, said in 2024 to USA TODAY the image the company made appears to be that of a plane on the sea floor about 100 miles fromHowland Island. Earhart and hernavigator, Fred Noonan, were heading for the island when they disappeared in July 1937.
An email to Deep Sea Vision asking about any updates to the discovery in early 2024 or the possibility of Purdue's involvement has not been returned as of Monday afternoon.
Contact Virginia Black at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue president: School wants to lead expedition for Earhart's plane
Purdue's presidential aspiration to lead an expedition in the quest for Amelia Earhart’s missing plane is a bold and historic endeavor, addressing not only academic curiosity but also upholding aviation pioneer spirit.
Purdue University's leadership in planning a mission to retrieve Amelia Earhart’uitas, once thought unimaginable for its depths within the Pacific Ocean---a bold move demonstrating historical curiosity and technological advancement that align with both exploration values of Purdue.
