Originally Posted by
Easy Street
Unless the time of the occurrence has been released, then knowing it was near the ship doesn't really help.
Moreover the ejection will have automatically activated the pilot's personal locator beacon, and as the Russians are part of COSPAS/SARSAT, they'll have a pretty good handle on the location as a result. One imagines there will be ships monitoring the site until a salvage capability arrives; they would also be a bit of a giveaway.
Quite, but there is a big difference between an ejection at 30,000 ft and one at 30ft in where the aircraft impacts and how far it travels thereafter. COSPAS/SARSAT might have provided an indication of the point of seat separation, but that is all. As for the expected overwatch, some of that may be sub-surface (we won't know) and surface vessels are unlikely to be directly over the site. The point is that Wallace - or whoever briefed on his behalf - has removed much of the ambiguity that would have been helpful in delaying the efforts of other 'interested parties' to locate the wreckage.