Its shame my original post on the 10th has vanished. To recap
I commented that the initial rate of turn and subsequent direction would hold some clues.
The rate of turn has still not been reported, lets guess it was 1 or 0.5 ?
I commented on Primary radar which I was told was not available . .
Just to nudge that radar debate along: Even Air Defence Primary radar is sometimes quite inaccurate on altitude, although it does estimate altitude .. so someone needs to fly the route in a 777-200 and see what range of altitudes a level flight returns on each of the same radar screens and where. Then they need to fly the Satellite 40 degree route using the same equipment for similar reasons
I've still not heard of all mobile operators in the region being asked to search for registration attempts by any phone on the flight . .
In fact Sherlock Holmes would be pretty much in despair by now . . .