“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.
"Gilligan!"
ON a previous trip they found an aluminum panel in the lagoon that matched up about 90% with one the panels of a Lockheed Electra.
They couldn’t make a definative match because of a rivet pattern differing slightly or something, but the difference was explainable through repairs or something — but (always another but in this story) there was also no proof that repair had ever been made to the plane Earhart was flying.
Wish I could remember the whole story, it was from 4-5 years ago I think. Same group too I believe (Gillespie)