Don Coombs, mayor of Harbour Grace, N.L., says he got a call early this morning saying the cherished bronze statue commemorating Earhart’s successful 1932 transatlantic flight was gone.

Though he hasn’t seen it yet himself, he says his staff saw surveillance video indicating two people were dropped off in the park just after midnight and were picked up nearly three hours later in a red SUV.

Coombs says Earhart fans and flight enthusiasts from across the globe have been calling him to express their concern and condolences.