[oust the louse]

the Electra, did not crash in the ocean and sink, as it was assumed after the futile massive search that followed the aviatrix’s disappearance on July 2, 1937.

AND they know this how?...

[TheGeezer]

The article states that they are searching for evidence that the Electra did not crash and sink, not they know it did not.

I think it was National Geographic that had a show about Earhart and her navigator. It detailed a number of Earhart scenarios, one of which theorizes that they were flying a spy mission for Roosevelt, and the Japanese captured them, questioned them, and executed them. Who knows?

[DrC]

“the Electra, did not crash in the ocean and sink, as it was assumed after the futile massive search that followed the aviatrix’s disappearance on July 2, 1937.”

“AND they know this how?...”

They DON’T “know” this:
“Gillespie and his team will be searching the tiny island until June 14 for evidence that Earhart’s twin-engine plane, the Electra, did not crash in the ocean and sink...”

Later in the article it specifically notes they will be looking for plane remnants in the coral reef. So I don’t think they believe the plane actually crashed or landed safely on land—simply that it MAY not have crashed in the deep ocean. If it did crash in the deep ocean, it’s hard to explain the various bits of evidence they have already found.