[jmacusa]

What I’m saying is doesn’t any person have a cellphone on that plane? It’s possible to make a cellphone call from a jet liner, people did it on 9/11. The major airlines have phones on board for passenger use. Have any family members tried contacting their loved ones somehow?

[ladyjane]

Unfortunately those passengers aren’t going to be making any cell phone calls.
Yes, family members have tried to call their cell phones. The phones ring. Nobody answers. Any thought that those passengers are being held as hostages is just wishful thinking.

[Qiviut]

This article should answer all your questions regarding the lack of cell phone usage ..... including why the 9-11 planes had folks who made calls, the circumstances in which the Malaysia Air plane's air phones would not have been usable, and the very sad likelihood (read all the way to the end) why passengers may not have been able to call .....

Questions Over Absence of Cellphone Calls From Missing Flight’s Passengers