What Made Amelia Earhart Vanish? Here Are Top 5 Theories To Explain the Disappearance of the Iconic Aviator

Amelia Earthard was the first female aviator to fly alone through the skies of the Atlantic Ocean. She was also one of the earliest aviators to encourage commercial aerial transportation.

According to the Daily Mail, Amelia Earhart was navigating a Lockheed Model 10 Electra alongside navigator Fred Noonan when the craft vanished off Howland Island. This was on July 2, 1937. Amelia Earhard was trying to be the first woman to finish a global trip.

However, the exact reason behind the iconic aviator's disappearance still remains a mystery. Britannica reports that her death was officially declared on January 5, 1939. Several individuals and specialists have been speculating on the cause of her disappearance. That being said, here are the top five theories to explain the iconic aviator's disappearance.

What Made Amelia Earhart Vanish?

Crash Into the Ocean

One of the most popular and direct theories regarding Amelia Earhart's disappearance is that the craft crashed into the water when its fuel tank was emptied out. It may have then sunk deep into the ocean. The theory suggests that Noonan and Earhart immediately died because of the strong impact or that they were unable to leave the craft.

Experts generally agree that the craft wreck could be close to Howland Island or Nikumaroro. The Daily Mail reports the possibility of Amelia Earhart diverting the plane and driving it toward Nikumaroro before the craft crashed.

Landing on Reefs

Yet another theory suggests that the pair may have landed close to the reefs around Nikumaroro and that radio signals may have been transmitted. The Washington Post reported before that Amelia Earhart issued many distress calls through the craft.

According to the Daily Mail, around a week after the plane's disappearance, there were around 120 global reports that claimed to pick up Earhart's calls. Some of these were credible while others were hoaxes.

One of the messages said that the plane was partially on land and partially on water. The transmission also mentioned that Noonan was gravely injured and needed medical assistance.

However, Navy pilots did not see any plan as they checked the island several days after Earhart's disappearance. This shows that the plane may have been pushed into the water.

Coconut Crabs

This theory proposes that the pair may have reached Nikumaroro but were later eaten by huge coconut crabs, which are known to be the largest land-based invertebrate in the world.

The Daily Mail reports that, three years after the disappearance, Gerard Galagher, a British colonial officer, found skeletal remains in Nikumaroro. Richard Jantz, who is a skeletal biology professor at the University of Tennessee, analyzed the remains and revealed that they closely matched Earhart, with a rate of nearly 100%.

Prison Camp

Unlike other theories, this one proposes that Earhart may have spent her final days on Saipan, which is located northwest of Nikumaroro. The theory suggests that the pair may have been seen by Japanese pilots, brought to Saipan, and executed.

It was partially grounded in the recollections of Tun Akin Tuho, who worked at the prison camp in Saipan. He recalled the presence of two white Americans, a man and woman, brought to the camp during the 1930s. Tun Akin Tuho mentioned these recollections to his nephew, who mentioned that Earhart and Noonan could have been killed and buried in Saipan.

The theory is further supported by recollections of the 1960s. Fred Goerner, a radio reporter, interviewed various witnesses who mentioned that there were white spies or flyers that were picked up within the island prior to World War 2. They mentioned that there was a white tall woman who had short hair and dressed like a man.

Someone Else's Identity

This theory suggests that Earhart may have been captured but later on freed. This way, Amelia Earhart may have taken up someone else's identity. However, despite how entertaining the theory may seem, it resembles a great conspiracy.

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