They think it flew faster for the same amount of time, but didn't travel as far!!
Does that sound right, or have they got something the wrong way round?
Previous answers to this question do not make sense either!
Do they mean flew with a higher Fuel flow????
Generally speaking, the faster an aircraft flies, the shorter will be its range.
To achieve the maximum range, there is an optimum speed an aircraft (any aircraft) must fly. If the aircraft is flown at a speed greater than the optimum, the range will be less than maximum. If flown at a speed slower than optimum, the range will again be less than maximum.
There is ONE optimum speed for maximum range. That speed tends to be quite a bit slower than normal cruising speed however, so it is only used when maximum range (or maximum fuel conservation) is required.
It makes perfect sense for the authorities to say "the plane travelled less distance because it was travelling faster".
The same is true for your car. There is one speed for maximum distance. Drive faster than that and you won't be able to go as far. Drive slower than it, and again you won't go as far. It is all to do with the magnitude of the drag forces (and engine efficiency), which vary enormously with speed.