If the aircraft has NOT been destroyed with the loss of all on board there would have been some distressed cell phone traffic. Or am I missing something here.
Yes. What makes you think that pax. cellphones will work in all locations ? There are areas of so called "First World" New Zealand where there is no cellphone coverage no matter how much money you pay to Vodafone ! The likelihood of them working in some remote area is nil, even in my urban location I have to step out on to my balcony to get even the weak signal provided by the State provider ! ( and My Dear, the cost !!! )