For nearly 90 years, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart has remained one of aviation’s greatest mysteries. Now, scientists believe they may finally be close to finding her lost plane.

Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic, proving her skill and determination in an era when aviation was still dangerous and unpredictable.

Her final journey began in 1937, when she and navigator Fred Noonan set out to fly around the world. After reaching Papua New Guinea, they departed for Howland Island—but never arrived.

Radio contact was lost over the Pacific Ocean, and despite extensive searches, no confirmed trace of the aircraft was ever found. Over the decades, theories ranged from a crash at sea to survival on a remote island.

Now, a team linked to Purdue University believes new evidence points to Nikumaroro, a remote island in Kiribati. Satellite images show a metallic object in a lagoon that closely matches the size and shape of her Lockheed Electra.

Researchers say the location aligns with distress signals recorded at the time, as well as earlier discoveries such as artifacts from the 1930s and a photo that may show part of the aircraft’s landing gear.

The planned expedition aims to investigate the site directly, with hopes of confirming whether the object is indeed Earhart’s plane. If proven, it could finally resolve a mystery that has lasted generations.

While previous searches have failed, scientists believe this new evidence is the strongest yet. Nearly a century later, the world may finally learn what happened to one of aviation’s most iconic pioneers.