The Taraia Object Expedition, a collaboration between Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute, aims to identify a visual anomaly in the lagoon of Nikumaroro that researchers suspect may be the wreckage of Earhart’s Lockheed Electra 10-E. To reach this uninhabited outpost located halfway between Australia and Hawaii, the team requires an array of advanced technology, including underwater drones, side-scan sonar, and magnetometers.

DHL is managing the complex transit of 33 crates from Oregon and Florida to Bonriki International Airport. The mission demands precision, as logistics teams had to navigate regulatory requirements for sensitive components like lithium batteries before coordinating the final sea voyage to the Phoenix Islands. Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S., described the operation as a chance to apply global logistics expertise to a historic aviation mystery, noting that the company’s role allows researchers to focus entirely on their underwater excavation and remote sensing work once they arrive at the site.