[Panama714]

From the article:

"There were 78 minutes of radio silence before air traffic controllers re-established radio contact after trying to contact the pilot and first officer by radio, mobile phone, text messages and email."

This suggests that they were expecting the crew's cell phones/smartphones to be on and functional. Interesting, as I would have thought SOP would be to have them turned off. Wouldn't the crew be violating FAA rules if their cell phones were operational?

[CARTOUCHE]

It wasn’t long ago on a Southwest flight that I went forward and observed a flight attendant sitting in her jump seat and talking on her cell inflight. Cell phones ‘off’ rules are only for us apparently.