Earhart’s Lockheed Electra left Lae, New Guinea just after midnight on July 2, 1937. Photo credit: U.S. National Archives
The United States has begun releasing long-classified intelligence files related to Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, making it the most significant disclosure of Earhart-related materials in nearly 90 years. The move follows President Donald J. Trump’s September 2025 directive ordering the declassification of “government records regarding Amelia Earhart, her final travels, and everything else relating to her.”
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), led by Director Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed in a press release that the first batch of documents now accessible through the National Archives includes declassified materials from the National Security Agency, historic Navy search reports, flight maps, communications analysis, and previously restricted intelligence assessments. Gabbard said the release was part of an effort to “shed light on the disappearance of a beloved American aviator” and restore public trust in U.S. intelligence agencies.
Earhart’s Last Flight: A Dangerous Mission
Departure and preparation
According to documents, Earhart’s Lockheed Electra left Lae, New Guinea, shortly after midnight on July 2, 1937, bound for Howland Island, a small atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. The aircraft carried approximately 1,100 gallons of fuel and had an estimated endurance of 24 hours, depending on engine configuration and headwinds. The Electra’s static range of 3,120 nautical miles was just enough for a trip around the world.
Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan carried emergency supplies, including a small rubber liferaft, flares, and a functioning radio transmitting on 500, 3105, and 6210 kHz with the call sign KHAQQ. The weather forecast warned of winds varying from 12 to 15 knots east-south-southeast near Lae, with winds increasing and changing direction as they approached Howland, which would later affect navigation.
last radio contact
Last confirmed position
The last confirmed position report was sent to GCT 0720 and the aircraft position was 4°33°.” South, 159°06” Sailing east at 111 knots. Subsequent messages became fragmented. By the time the Coast Guard cutter arrived itasca Ms. Earhart began receiving communications and reported that she was “160 miles away,” then “over the island, but did not make landfall,” and then circled while requesting radio bearings.
of itasca Earhart’s voice could be heard clearly, but the ship’s reply could not be heard. No usable radio direction-finding heading was established. In her final confirmed message, Earhart said she was “on Route 157-337 running north and south,” which was interpreted as a final attempt to intercept Howland’s line of longitude. Calculations showed she probably had less than an hour of fuel left. Thick clouds may be gathering north and northwest of Howland, obscuring visual clues.
Immediate response and past search efforts
Search operation
When Earhart didn’t show up, itasca He maintained a position off Howland and raised a plume of smoke in the hope that Electra would spot the ship. The report details the ship’s movements and attempts to coordinate with Howland’s radio outpost. A search was conducted on the north side of the island after messages from Wailupe were intercepted, including, “On the other side of Howland, keep us out of the water, cut us off.” Other reports from as far away as Australia, Fiji and Wyoming were later dismissed as hoaxes.
Within 48 hours, the U.S. Navy launched the largest maritime search operation in history. Battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, cutters, and seaplanes covered thousands of square miles. USS aircraft lexington From July 13th to 18th, he single-handedly surveyed more than 150,000 square miles. Search planes scoured the islands in the Phoenix and Gilbert groups and questioned local residents, but found no trace of the Electra, the raft or its crew.
Based on winds, ocean currents, and Earhart’s last line call, the Navy estimated a drift path with a possible landing site between 2 degrees and 5 degrees north latitude and 175 degrees and 179 degrees east longitude.
The Nikumaroro Expedition: A Modern Effort to Find Earhart
Expedition summary
On November 1, a 16-member team began a mission to investigate possible debris on Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific. In collaboration with Purdue University and the Institute for Archeology and Heritage Research, the team is using aerial surveys, excavations, and underwater scanning to investigate anomalies in the lagoon that may be the remains of Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra.
Drone images showing the ‘Thalaia object’ renewed global interest and made it a clear target for the expedition. This mission will not only solve historical mysteries, but also highlight Earhart’s accomplishments in aviation and STEM, inspiring future generations of researchers and explorers.
National and historical significance of declassified files
historical background
For historians and aviation experts, the planned release marks a major change. Decades of speculation about Earhart’s disappearance, from navigational errors to crash theories and even her capture by foreign forces, can now be examined alongside archival material from her time in the intelligence community.
Record consolidation
This initiative consolidates all federal Earhart records into one place and allows the public to examine investigative records from multiple agencies at the same time. Modern tools such as satellite mapping, seafloor imaging, and AI-assisted triangulation can now be applied to these documented search areas, potentially restarting some of the investigations.
summary
- Declassified files include Navy reports, radio recordings, and maps revealing Earhart’s final flight.
- The final transmission was likely made with less than an hour of fuel remaining. Complex weather navigation.
- Although the 1937 search was on an unprecedented scale, no trace of the aircraft or its crew was found.
- Modern expeditions are investigating possible debris on Nikumaroro Island.
what happens next
The declassification process is ongoing, with U.S. government agencies reviewing the archives and additional material expected to be released over time. Future batches may include diplomatic correspondence from the late 1930s, additional naval intelligence reports, and analysis from the early Cold War era.
Fifteen days into the Nikumaroro search, the team continues to survey the lagoon and surrounding terrain in hopes of finding evidence that could finally explain what happened during Earhart’s final flight. While historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts are closely watching both the expedition and newly released records, the combination of modern technology and archival research offers the best chance to solve one of the 20th century’s most enduring mysteries.
You can view our confidential archives here
