Dhaka, Oct. 13 -- A 17-strong research team is investigating a mysterious object spotted in satellite imagery on a remote Pacific island that may be the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane, The Independent reports.

The team, funded by Purdue University, arrived at Nikumaroro Island in the Republic of Kiribati after a five-day ocean voyage and began its investigation on Wednesday, the university said.

Researchers are focusing on an anomalous object visible in satellite images of the area, which some believe could be Earhart's Lockheed 10E Electra twin-engine aircraft.

Earhart, a pioneering aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, vanished on Jul 2, 1937, along with navigator Fred Noonan.

The pair, aged 39 and 44 resp...