Satellites "picked up signals" from missing plane
卫星收到失联马航航班信号

As the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 continues, sources close to the investigation told Reuters that shortly after the plane disappeared, communications satellites picked up faint electronic pulses. But they say the signals gave no information about where the plane was heading.

The system transmits such signals about once an hour. It remains unclear how many the plane sent after air traffic control lost track of it. The signals indicate that the aircraft’s maintenance troubleshooting systems were switched on and ready to communicate with satellites as needed.

But according to the sources, no data links were opened because the companies involved had not subscribed to that level of service. Boeing, which made the missing 777 airliner, and Rolls-Royce, which supplied its engines, have both declined to comment. Earlier, Malaysian officials denied reports the plane had continued to send technical data. They said there was no evidence it flew for hours after losing contact with air traffic controllers.