With all the smartphones these days nobody sent a text message or e-mail? Apparently the plane was flying low to avoid radar so wouldve been possible to make a call or text. nothing at all though? Story is crazy, I ca't believe they're still looking for it.
I'm not an aviation expert, but that seems counter intuitive...? Aside from that, if the plane were low enough to get a ping from a cell tower (be able to text&call / have signal), they could probably just get the ping from the phone to the tower and track them without needing someone on board the plane to text/call,etc. This entire situation is weird and unfortunate though.