Ep 5. The Odd Vanishing of Amelia Earhart

In season 2, episode 5 of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime, titled "The Odd Vanishing of Amelia Earhart," hosts Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej delve into one of the most intriguing cases in aviation history.

Amelia Earhart was a pioneering aviator and one of the most recognizable names in 20th-century America. Her disappearance on July 2, 1937, while attempting to fly around the world with navigator Fred Noonan, has long been one of the greatest mysteries of modern times.

In this episode, Bergara and Madej explore the various theories that attempt to explain what happened to Earhart and Noonan after their plane, a Lockheed Electra 10E, went off the radar over the Pacific Ocean.

The hosts begin by recapping Earhart's early life and her impressive achievements in aviation, including her record-breaking solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932. They also highlight some of the dangers and challenges that came with early aviation, such as navigating without GPS and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.

However, the focus of the episode is on the events leading up to Earhart's disappearance. Bergara and Madej first examine the possibility that the plane simply ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean. They consider how difficult it would be to locate the wreckage in the vast expanse of the Pacific, especially in the 1930s with limited technology.

The hosts then turn to some of the more outlandish theories, including the idea that Earhart and Noonan were on a secret mission for the US government or that they were spies for the Japanese. These theories are based on speculation and little evidence, but they offer intriguing possibilities that continue to captivate the public imagination.

Bergara and Madej also explore the possibility that Earhart and Noonan survived the crash and were stranded on a remote island. They examine reports of signals heard on a certain frequency that could have been from the downed plane and investigate accounts of sightings of Earhart and Noonan on the island.

Finally, the hosts consider the recent discovery of wreckage on the island of Nikumaroro, which some experts believe could be from Earhart's plane. Bergara and Madej speak with Ric Gillespie, the executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), who has spent decades researching and investigating the Earhart case.

Through their discussion, Bergara and Madej do not offer a concrete answer to the mystery of Earhart's disappearance. Rather, they present the various possibilities and theories surrounding the case, allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions.

Overall, "The Odd Vanishing of Amelia Earhart" offers a fascinating look into one of the most enduring mysteries of modern times. The episode is well-researched and engaging, and the hosts' enthusiasm for the subject matter is clear throughout. Fans of true crime and unsolved mysteries will find plenty to enjoy in this episode of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime.