Amelia Earhart, the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean, in her famous red Lockheed Model 10-E Electra plane, is known throughout the world. In her life, Earhart soared like a crimson comet through the sky. However, tragically, just as a comet appears and disappears in the sky, so does she. 

On her most daring voyage, to circle the world, she took off, never to land again. Possible answers and conspiracies surrounding her death are in no short supply, some as wild as being stranded on a remote island and being eaten by coconut crabs or being captured by the Japanese.

What exactly happened is still questioned to this day, though a shocking discovery may help unravel this legendary mystery.

After making it 22,000 of the 29,000 miles to fly around the Earth, Earhart, along with her co-pilot, Fred Noonan, departed for Howland Island. 

On the trek, Earhart kept radio contact with a US ship named Itasca. Earhart radioed as they neared the island, saying they were low on fuel. Soon after she reported what would be her final words, “We are running north and south.”

Search parties were formed yet came back empty-handed and the trail on Earhart’s whereabouts went cold. Until now, that is. New evidence brings an exciting lead in this case that has been left unsolved for over 80 years. 

According to the Washington Post, a company known as Deep Sea Vision claims to have discovered the wreckage of Earhart’s plane. The evidence is not solid quite yet as Deep Sea Vision has only “captured a sonar image of a plane that matches the dimensions of the Lockheed Electra aircraft Earhart was flying on July 2, 1937.”

Deep Sea Vision plans more excursions to the sea floor to capture more photos in hopes of confirming their discovery. Ultimately, the goal would be to recover the aircraft if it is still sturdy enough after all these years submerged.

“I really hope it is her actual plane,” said Mikaela Lipitz, 10. Getting an answer to her disappearance may bring the focus back to Earhart’s achievements, instead of her death.

“Earhart inspired and still inspires courage and girl power,” said Lipitz. In the realm of aviation, she was extremely progressive for female pilots. She helped found the Ninety-Nines, an aviation association for female pilots Earhart pushed women to go against social norms and spread their wings and fly.

“By being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo, she showed what women are capable of,” said Lipitz. 

Earhart has become a household name due to her feats and for her undying spirit she deserves to be celebrated.

“She is by far the most famous female pilot,” said Ben Domanski, 12. “She inspired many and it is great her memory lives on so she has the chance to inspire more even after she is gone.”

Amelia Earhart will live on in the history books and the hearts of many. Hopefully, with Deep Sea Vision’s discovery of Earhart’s plane, the mystery of her disappearance may finally start to clear up.