With QF, this info is sent to a 24hr "Maintenance Watch" area for survey and pre-empting maintenance at the next port. I have seen direct input contact with acars from the ground and the air, with text messages.
The bulk of the info sent to maint watch is CMC dumps (747-400) and performance excedences (767) which arrives with a fault code no., flight ststus (air/ground/t/o) and flight no (and sector names).
An example:
QFA100 ASSY ALAX T/O 161101 H100 2429932 OJH
Flight to/from flight stage date height fault A/C
In answer to the question, it isnt a great help to aid in finding an aircraft off route. The only possibility is if they (terrorist pilots) answered a direct text request.
Hope it helps....
[ 18 November 2001: Message edited by: moremj2 ]
[ 18 November 2001: Message edited by: moremj2 ]