Nikumaroro is about 400 miles southeast of Howland Island, Earhart and Noonan’s planned destination. Purdue joins the Archaeological Legacy Institute in a South Pacific expedition to search for Amelia Earhart’s missing Lockheed Electra airplane. https://t.co/WqEEWi6XwA — Purdue University (@LifeAtPurdue) October 1, 2025However, Ric Gillespie, executive director of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, has expressed skepticism. He said that if the object is identified as Earhart’s plane, the university hopes it can transport the plane home. Earhart worked at Purdue University for two years in the 1930s, and the Purdue Research Foundation originally paid for the airplane that Earhart flew, the school said.