DHL Supports Search for Amelia Earhart's Missing Aircraft

PLANTATION, Fla., Oct. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- DHL Express, the world's leading provider of international express shipping services, has become the Official Logistics Partner of the Taraia Object Expedition, aiding in the search for Amelia Earhart's missing aircraft. This historic mission, which has been ongoing for nearly 90 years, aims to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of one of the most celebrated aviators of the 20th century.

Earhart, who vanished on July 2, 1937, while attempting to circumnavigate the globe, remains one of aviation's enduring mysteries. Her Lockheed Electra 10-E, which could be the submerged object known as the Taraia Object, is the focus of this expedition. Researchers from Purdue University and the Archaeological Legacy Institute are collaborating with DHL to investigate the possibility that the object in the lagoon of Nikumaroro, a tiny atoll in the Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, is the wreckage of Earhart's plane.

The Taraia Object Expedition will travel to Nikumaroro, roughly halfway between Australia and Hawaii, to conduct a thorough investigation. DHL Express is transporting more than 1,650 pounds of specialized equipment and supplies to Kiribati, including underwater drones, side-scan sonar, magnetometers, diving equipment, GPS and navigation systems, solar panels, communications technology, and environmental monitoring equipment. The shipments also include field supplies necessary for the researchers to operate in the remote field environment.

Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S., emphasized the significance of this mission.

DHL teams at the shipping locations worked directly with the Taraia Object Expedition team to prepare and inspect the equipment, including addressing special transportation requirements for lithium batteries and other regulated components. DHL then coordinated a combination of DHL-operated and commercial flights through the United States and onward to Tarawa, working with teams in Los Angeles and across its Americas and Asia Pacific network.

Once on Nikumaroro, researchers will use remote sensing technology, magnetometers, sonar, and underwater excavation to investigate the Taraia Object and search the surrounding area for additional evidence. The expedition team is expected to travel by sea to Nikumaroro, bringing the equipment and supplies needed to operate in the remote field environment.

DHL's support brings its global logistics expertise to a mission that combines exploration, technology, and aviation history in the search for answers to one of the world's most enduring mysteries. The company's role in this expedition underscores its commitment to connecting people and resources, even in the most challenging environments.