U.S.WEIRD NEWS

Earhart search crew beds down on ship, away from crabs

The team will search by day and return to the ship each night, with the BBC reporting the crabs may have played a part in the disappearance.

On air: Kenji Moonfield, Gloria Vance and Vera Bullock on Best of BBN
Published 2:01 AM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: Angela K. Kepler (cleaned up by Rvdude007 ) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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At a glance

First reported by BBC: “Crew searching for Amelia Earhart arrives at crab-infested island”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 2:01 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Kenji Moonfield, Gloria Vance and Vera Bullock; aired 2 times.
Topics: Amelia Earhart.
BBN covered this story before: Amelia Earhart expedition heads to Pacific atoll to test satellite… (October 12).

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe crew searching for Amelia Earhart has now reached that remote island, and the first thing they did was decide not to sleep on it.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorResearchers will bunk on their ship instead, because the island is home to giant coconut crabs.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe BBC reports the crabs are strong enough to pry open coconuts and carry heavy objects.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI think it's lovely that the team set a boundary. Some people would call that fear, but I call it a healthy relationship with crabs.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe same report says the crabs may have played a role in Earhart's disappearance, which is a theory, not a finding.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the crabs are suspects, and the detectives are sleeping offshore. Bold way to work a cold case.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOffshore?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThey go ashore by day and return to the ship at night.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have been on ships like that, and the crew is always the calmest part.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd a crab that cracks coconuts for lunch is going to look at a tent as a snack bag with a zipper.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOr the crabs just want closure, and the team is giving them a safe space to process.

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