Earhart’s Lockheed Electra departed Lae, New Guinea, just after midnight on 2 July 1937. Photo credit: US National Archives
The United States has begun releasing long-classified intelligence files related to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, marking the most significant disclosure of Earhart-related material in nearly 90 years. The move follows a September 2025 directive by President Donald J. Trump, ordering the declassification of “Government Records related to Amelia Earhart, her final trip, and everything else about her.”
In a press release the office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), led by Director Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed that the first batch of documents, now accessible via the National Archives, includes declassified material from the National Security Agency, historic naval search reports, flight maps, communications analyses, and previously restricted intelligence assessments. Gabbard described the release as part of an effort to “shine light on the disappearance of a beloved American aviator” and restore public trust in U.S. intelligence agencies.
Earhart’s Final Flight: A Mission Loaded With Risk
Departure and Preparations
According to the documents, Earhart’s Lockheed Electra departed Lae, New Guinea, just after midnight on 2 July 1937, bound for Howland Island, a tiny atoll in the central Pacific. The aircraft carried around 1,100 gallons of fuel, giving an estimated endurance of 24 hours, depending on engine settings and headwinds. The Electra’s still-air range of 3,120 nautical miles was just enough for the leg of the world-circling journey.
Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan carried emergency supplies, including a small rubber life raft, flares, and a functioning radio capable of transmitting on 500, 3105, and 6210 kHz under the call sign KHAQQ. Weather forecasts warned of shifting winds, ESE 12–15 knots near Lae, strengthening and changing direction closer to Howland, which later affected navigation.
The Final Radio Contacts
Last Verified Positions
The last verified position report came at 0720 GCT, placing the aircraft at 4°33′ South, 159°06′ East, travelling at 111 knots. Subsequent messages grew fragmented. By the time the Coast Guard cutter Itasca began receiving transmissions, Earhart reported she was “100 miles out,” then “over the island but no landfall,” and later circling while requesting radio bearings.
The Itasca could hear Earhart clearly, but she could not hear the ship’s replies. No usable radio direction-finding bearings were established. In her final confirmed message, Earhart stated she was “on line 157–337 running north and south”, interpreted as a last attempt to intercept Howland’s longitude line. Based on calculations, she likely had less than an hour of fuel remaining. Heavy cloud banks north and northwest of Howland may have obscured visual cues.
The Immediate Response and Historic Search Effort
Search Operations
When Earhart failed to appear, the Itasca held position off Howland, laying smoke columns in hopes the Electra might sight the ship. Reports detail the vessel’s movements and attempts to coordinate with Howland’s radio outpost. Intercepted messages, including one from Wailupe, “BEYOND HOWLAND DON’T HOLD WITH US MUCH LONGER ABOVE WATER SHUT OFF”, prompted searches north of the island. Other reports, from as far as Australia, Fiji, and Wyoming, were later dismissed as hoaxes.
Within 48 hours, the U.S. Navy launched one of the largest maritime searches in history. Battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, cutters, and seaplanes covered thousands of square miles. Aircraft from USS Lexington alone surveyed over 150,000 square miles between 13 and 18 July. Search planes examined island chains across the Phoenix and Gilbert groups, questioning locals, but no trace of the Electra, raft, or crew was found.
The Navy estimated a drift track for a possible landing point between 2°–5° North latitude and 175°–179° East longitude, based on winds, currents, and Earhart’s last line-of-position call.
Nikumaroro Expedition: Modern Efforts to Locate Earhart
Expedition Overview
On 1 November, a 16-member team began a mission to investigate potential wreckage on Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific. Coordinated by Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute, the team uses aerial surveys, excavation, and underwater scanning to examine anomalies in a lagoon that could be remnants of Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra.
Drone imagery showing the ‘Taraia Object’ has renewed global interest and provided a clear target for the expedition. Beyond solving a historical mystery, the mission highlights Earhart’s legacy in aviation and STEM, inspiring future generations of researchers and explorers.
National and Historical Significance of the Declassified Files
Historical Context
For historians and aviation experts, the coordinated release represents a major shift. Decades of speculation about Earhart’s disappearance, ranging from navigational error to crash-and-sink theories, and even detention by foreign forces, can now be examined alongside intelligence-era archival material.
Consolidation of Records
The initiative consolidates all federal Earhart records in one place, allowing the public to examine the investigative trail from multiple agencies simultaneously. Modern tools, including satellite mapping, ocean-floor imaging, and AI-assisted triangulation, could now be applied to these documented search areas, potentially reopening parts of the investigation.
Summary
- Declassified files include Navy reports, radio logs, and maps clarifying Earhart’s last flight.
- Final transmission likely occurred with under an hour of fuel remaining; weather complicated navigation.
- The 1937 search was unprecedented in scale but yielded no trace of the aircraft or crew.
- A modern expedition is investigating Nikumaroro Island for possible wreckage.
What Comes Next
The declassification process is ongoing, with U.S. agencies reviewing archives for additional material to be released on a rolling basis. Future batches may include diplomatic correspondence from the late 1930s, additional naval intelligence reports, and early Cold War-era analyses.
Fifteen days into the Nikumaroro search, the team continues to survey the lagoon and surrounding terrain, hoping to uncover evidence that could finally explain what happened during Earhart’s final flight. Historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts are closely following both the expedition and the newly released records, while modern technology and archival research together offer the best chance yet to solve one of the 20th century’s longest-standing mysteries.
You can view the classified archives here
