Metal patch discovered in 1991 belonged to Amelia Earhart's lost aircraft, say experts

A new research has suggested that a patch of metal that had been recovered in 1991 from Nikumaroro in the south-western Pacific republic of Kiribati belonged to Amelia Earhart's plane.

Earhart's twin-engine Lockheed Electra had disappeared without trace while she was attempting to circumnavigate the globe and the researchers have said that the piece of metal discovered matched the fragment of metal that was installed on the window of her plane, News.com.au reported.

The experts have said that the distinctive metal patch near the plane's tailgate could be seen in the Miami Herald photo that was taken before her take-off.

The TIGHAR researchers had travelled to Wichita Air Services in Earhart's home state of Kansas to compare the dimensions of the sheet of metal to the components of a Lockheed Electra being restored to airworthy condition. They found that the rivets have appeared to match those of the patch that would have been used to fix Earhart's plane.

The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) has been studying the scrap of aluminium, found on the tiny atoll which lies between Hawaii and Australia, for the past 25 years.