Days into their expedition, the team searching for Amelia Earhart’s missing plane is battling severe weather — and racing to identify a mysterious object that could finally solve the aviator's disappearance.Purdue University announced in a Thursday update that the 17-person expedition was forced to pause field operations after winds and rough seas made it too dangerous to reach Nikumaroro by transport boat.The group is investigating the Taraia Object, a visual anomaly in the island's lagoon that researchers believe could be the wreckage of Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10-E.GIANT MEAT-EATING CRABS WITH CRUSHING GRIP COMPLICATE AMELIA EARHART EXPEDITION ON REMOTE ISLANDWinds and rough seas near Nikumaroro "made conditions unsafe," Purdue University said."Despite Thursday’s weather delay, the expedition remains on schedule, with two more days of field operations planned — and an update on the identification of the Taraia Object expected — before the team must depart the atoll and return to Tarawa, Kiribati," the university said.A 17-person expedition searching for Amelia Earhart's missing plane faced severe weather as researchers investigated a mysterious object near Nikumaroro Island.(Purdue University; Bettmann via Getty Images)Because Nikumaroro is 17 hours ahead of Eastern time in the United States, an update could come as early as Saturday, although Purdue did not give a specific release time.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER UNEXPECTED TWIST IN SHIPWRECK MYSTERY AFTER CLUES DON'T ADD UPThe university also said the team had begun collecting data on the Taraia Object, but it cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions.Purdue University said the expedition that is searching for Earhart's aircraft is continuing despite weather conditions that temporarily halted field operations.
(Bettmann via Getty Images; Purdue University)"We understand the tremendous interest in what we’re doing at Nikumaroro, and we appreciate everyone’s patience," Rick Pettigrew, execu...