Deep-sea explorer Tony Romeo and his team at Deep Sea Vision have officially announced that what they initially believed to be the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s long-lost aircraft is, in fact, a rock formation. This confirmation comes after a second expedition to the Pacific Ocean site, dashing hopes of a breakthrough in the decades-long mystery surrounding the famed aviator’s disappearance.
Earlier this year, a sonar image captured by Romeo’s team during a three-month expedition ignited global excitement. The image appeared to show an aircraft-shaped object deep in the Pacific, leading many to believe they were on the verge of solving one of aviation’s greatest enigmas: the whereabouts of Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed 10-E Electra, which vanished in 1937.
However, further investigation with high-resolution sonar imaging has now revealed the disappointing truth. The “aircraft” is not wreckage, but rather a naturally formed rock structure on the ocean floor.
“While this outcome isn’t what we hoped for, we are continuing our search for another 30 days to cover over 1,500 square nautical miles,” Romeo stated, demonstrating his team’s unwavering commitment. Romeo, who funded the ambitious expedition by selling his commercial properties, remains dedicated to uncovering the mystery.
Sonar images reveal rock formation, not Earhart's plane
Sonar images from Deep Sea Vision confirmed that the initial aircraft-shaped sonar detection was a rock formation, not Amelia Earhart’s missing plane.
The initial sonar discovery generated significant public interest, underscoring the enduring fascination with Amelia Earhart’s story. A pioneering figure in aviation history, Earhart vanished alongside her navigator, Fred Noonan, during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Setting off from Lae, Papua New Guinea, their journey aimed to reach Howland Island for refueling, en route to Honolulu and finally, Oakland, California. Tragically, radio transmissions ceased near Howland Island, and they were never seen again.
Amelia Earhart, the celebrated aviation pioneer who disappeared in 1937 during a world flight attempt
Amelia Earhart, a groundbreaking female aviator, became a global icon before her mysterious disappearance in 1937.
Despite extensive search efforts by the US Navy and Coast Guard in 1937, and numerous subsequent expeditions over the decades, no trace of Earhart or her aircraft has ever been found. Officially declared lost at sea on January 5, 1939, Amelia Earhart’s disappearance has remained one of history’s most captivating unsolved mysteries.
Romeo and his brothers, also pilots, embarked on their ambitious $11 million expedition with the hope of finally resolving this 87-year-old enigma. Their 16-person team deployed from Tarawa, Kiribati, near Howland Island, in September 2023, utilizing an unmanned submersible to scan over 5,200 square miles of the ocean floor. The initial sonar image, captured after about a month of searching at a depth of over 16,000 feet, sparked international headlines, though some sonar experts remained skeptical about the clarity of the image.
Historical image of Amelia Earhart declared officially dead in 1939 after extensive unsuccessful searches
Amelia Earhart was officially declared deceased in 1939, marking the end of official search efforts but not public fascination.
Despite the recent setback, Deep Sea Vision remains undeterred. Romeo’s statement emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to the search, fueled by the global interest in Earhart’s story. The quest to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s final flight continues, even as promising leads turn to stone.
