According to the WSK article, the telemetry system's "pings" continued for five hours after radar ceased detecting the transponder.
The position data transmitted by the pings was not described in detail, but it is being reported by WSJ that the final ping was sent from overwater at a normal cruising altitude.
US aircraft and Indian forces have reportedly been sent to search parts of the Indian Ocean, well west (>1K miles) of Malaysia.
That area is roughly consistent with what (little) has been reported about radar returns recorded by Malaysian military.
At normal cruising altitude, assuming a northwest course, plane could have easily reached land, and gone as far as central India. So it is interesting that the last ping was over water, if that information is correct.
Supposing someone on board the plane deliberately turned off the transponder, changed course, and flew west or northwest for several hours, then - what?
- Crash into ocean, deliberately or out of fuel?
- Disable the pings and fly on, but to where?
Bizzare. There are faster ways to commit suicide, more spectacular means of terrorism, etc.
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WSJ this am reported that the aircraft pinged sats for several hours after its last transponder contact with position, airspeed and altitude data...
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