Vanished

    The year 1937 had been a big one for Amelia Earhart. She was a famous pilot. Her life was exciting. And she was about to fly around the globe. 

    Earhart’s trip started on May 20 in California. On June 29, she reached New Guinea. That was an island in the Pacific Ocean. By then, she had traveled 22,000 miles over five continents. In a few days, she’d be back home in the United States.

    Earhart was flying with a navigator named Fred Noonan. He helped her find her way as she flew. The two planned to land on Howland Island in early July. That’s about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.

    But when they looked out the window of the plane, they saw no island. All they saw was the Pacific Ocean.

    They were lost. And they were low on fuel.

    Earhart used the radio to call for help. There was no answer.

    She tried again.

    Silence.

    Amelia Earhart was never seen or heard from again.

    Now, more than 85 years later, we still don’t know: What happened to Amelia Earhart?

    The year 1937 had been an exciting one for Amelia Earhart. She was a famous pilot who lived an adventure-packed life, and she was about to fly around the globe.

    Earhart’s journey started on May 20 in California. On June 29, she reached New Guinea, an island in the Pacific Ocean. By that time, she had traveled 22,000 miles over five continents. In just a few days, she would be back home in the United States.

    Earhart was traveling with Fred Noonan, a navigator who helped her find her way as she flew. The two were scheduled to land on Howland Island—about halfway between Australia and Hawaii—in early July.

    But when they looked out the window of the plane, they didn’t see any island. All they could see was the sparkling blue water of the Pacific Ocean.

    They were lost, and they were quickly running out of fuel.

    Earhart used the radio to call for help, but she received no response.

    She used the radio again.

    Silence.

    Amelia Earhart would never be seen or heard from again.

    Now, more than 85 years later, it remains one of history’s greatest mysteries: What really happened on that fateful day in 1937?

    Amelia Earhart was born in 1897. In the early 1900s, many people thought women couldn’t be pilots. But Earhart knew better. When she was 23, she took a ride in a plane. The trip changed her life forever. A year later, she earned her pilot’s license. 

    In the coming years, Earhart set many records. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935, she became the first person to fly alone across the Pacific. 

    Today, flying over an ocean may not seem like a big deal. But in Earhart’s time, it was very dangerous. Flying was still new, and planes had many problems. Engines fell out. Fuel tanks caught fire. Over an ocean, these problems meant almost certain death for a pilot.

    Earhart knew the risks. But she wasn’t afraid. Next she wanted to fly around the world. Only a few pilots had done it before. All were men. 

    By the time she tried it in 1937, Earhart had become as famous as any movie star. People loved following her adventures.

    Little did they know that those adventures would soon come to an end.

    Amelia Earhart was born in 1897. In the early 1900s, many people thought women couldn’t be pilots. But Earhart knew better. At age 23, she rode in a plane. The trip changed her life. A year later, she got her pilot’s license.

    Earhart set many records. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935, she became the first person to fly alone across the Pacific.

    Today flying over an ocean may not seem like a big deal. But in Earhart’s time, it was very dangerous. Flying was still new, and planes had many problems. Engines fell out. Fuel tanks caught fire. Over an ocean, these problems meant almost certain death for a pilot.

    Earhart knew the risks. But she wasn’t afraid. She wanted to fly around the world. Only a few pilots had done it before. All
were men.

    By the time she tried it in 1937, Earhart was famous. People loved following her adventures.

    But those adventures would soon come to an end.

    Amelia Earhart was born in 1897. Although many people in the early 1900s thought women couldn’t be pilots, Earhart knew better. When she was 23, she took a ride in a plane—and it changed her life forever. A year later, she earned her pilot’s license.

    In the years that followed, Earhart set many records. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935, she became the first person to fly alone across the Pacific.

    Flying over an ocean might not seem especially remarkable today, but it was very dangerous in Earhart’s time. Flying was still new. Planes had many problems, such as engines falling out and fuel tanks catching fire. Over an ocean, these problems meant almost certain death for a pilot.

    Earhart was aware of the risks, but she wasn’t afraid. Next she wanted to fly around the world. Only a few pilots had done it before, and all of them were men.

    By the time she attempted it in 1937, Earhart had become a major celebrity. People were fascinated by her adventures.

    Little did they know that those adventures would soon come to an end.

    On July 2, Earhart and Noonan took off for Howland Island. After weeks of flying, they were finally on the last part of their trip. The pair planned to fly through the night. They would get to Howland early the next morning and refill the plane with gas.

    Finding Howland would not be easy. The island was just a tiny dot in the ocean. At the time, pilots only had maps, their eyes, and a few basic tools to help them find their way. 

    The plane did have a radio to talk to others. This technology was new at the time. Earhart had never been fully trained on how to use it. 

    Luckily, Earhart had help from a U.S. Coast Guard ship called the Itasca. The ship was near Howland Island. At midnight, the Itasca’s searchlights were switched on. The boilers began puffing out smoke. This way, Earhart could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

    On July 2, Earhart and Noonan took off for Howland Island. They were on the last part of their trip. They planned to fly through the night. They would get to Howland early the next morning. There, they would refill the plane with gas.

    Finding Howland would not be easy. The island was a tiny dot in the ocean. At the time, pilots only had maps, their eyes, and a few basic tools to help them find their way.

    The plane did have a radio to talk to others. But this technology was new. Earhart had not been fully trained on how to use it.

    Luckily, Earhart had help from a U.S. Coast Guard ship called the Itasca. The ship was near Howland Island. At midnight, its searchlights were switched on. Its boilers began puffing out smoke. Earhart could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

    On July 2, Earhart and Noonan took off for Howland Island. After weeks of flying, they were finally on the last part of their journey. The pair planned to fly through the night, then land on Howland early the next morning and refuel.

    Locating Howland, which was just a tiny dot in the ocean, would be challenging. At the time, pilots only had maps, their eyes, and a few basic tools to help them find their way.

    The plane did have a radio to communicate with others—but this technology was new at the time, and Earhart hadn’t been completely trained on how to operate it.

    Fortunately, Earhart had support from a U.S. Coast Guard ship called the Itasca, which was near Howland Island. At midnight, the Itasca’s searchlights were switched on, and its boilers began puffing out smoke. This way, Earhart could use the lights and smoke to guide her.

    By 7 a.m., there was no sign of Earhart. Plus, her radio didn’t seem to be working well. The Itasca crew was worried. They could hear her, but she couldn’t hear them.

    At 7:42 a.m., Earhart’s voice was heard on the radio. “We must be on you but cannot see you,” she said. “Gas is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio.”

    The crew searched the skies for her plane. They saw only clouds. They kept trying to reach her. Nothing worked.

    Around 8:45 a.m., her voice broke through the static once more.

    It was the last time anyone would hear from her. Amelia Earhart was gone.

    By 7 a.m., there was still no sign of Earhart. Plus, her radio didn’t appear to be functioning properly. The Itasca crew was worried. They could hear her, but she couldn’t hear them.

    At 7:42 a.m., Earhart’s voice was heard on the radio.

    “We must be on you but cannot see you,” she said. “Gas is running low. Been unable to reach you by radio.”

    The crew searched the skies for her silver plane but saw only clouds. They tried repeatedly to contact her—without success.

    At approximately 8:45 a.m., her voice broke through the static once more.

    It was the last time anyone would hear from her. Amelia Earhart was gone.

    Americans were shocked by the news. How could their favorite aviator just vanish?

    Today we still don’t know the answer. There have been many theories.

    Some people say Earhart survived and moved to New Jersey. There she lived under a fake name to escape fame. (Most experts think this is unlikely.)

    Some people say Earhart’s plane crashed on an uninhabited island called Nikumaroro. Her plane sank to the ocean floor. Giant crabs that live on the island ate her body after she died.

    Most experts say the truth is probably simpler. They believe Earhart ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean. Earhart and Noonan died, and the plane sank.

    But where is the plane?

    Explorers have searched the Pacific Ocean. No one has found the plane. Until someone does, the mystery remains.

    What happened to Amelia Earhart? 

    Americans were astonished and dismayed when they heard about Earhart’s disappearance. How was it possible that this beloved aviator had simply vanished?

    Today we’re still trying to answer this question. There have been many theories.

    Some people believe that Earhart survived and moved to New Jersey, where she lived under a false name to escape fame. (Most experts think this is unlikely.)

    Another theory is that Earhart’s plane crashed on an uninhabited island called Nikumaroro, her plane sank to the ocean floor, and giant crabs that live on the island ate her body after she died.

    But most experts agree on a less exciting theory: that the plane ran out of gas and crashed into the ocean, Earhart and Noonan died, and the plane sank.

    Where, then, is Earhart’s plane?

    Explorers have searched the Pacific Ocean, but no one has located the plane yet. Until someone does, the mystery remains.

    What really happened to Amelia Earhart?