Inmarsat: AirAsia was upgrading tracking technology but QZ8501 was not yet modified

This article is more than 12 months old

Dec 30, 2014 01:09 pm

AirAsia had started implementing satellite communications on some of its short-haul planes earlier this year.

This tracking technology would have allowed planes to provide position updates every two minutes.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that British satellite communications company Inmarsat said the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 had not yet been upgraded.

Inmarsat vice-president external affairs Chris McLaughlin also told WSJ that AirAsia was in the midst of rolling out Wi-Fi for passengers onboard by using a satellite link that would also deliver position updates.

The British company, played a significant role after the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, in pinpointing the possible location of the aircraft.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Malay Mail Online