It amazes me that Hollywood would have us believe military satellites can read your morning newspaper from ten miles away. Obviously untrue. But I don't understand how they can't get ANYthing? Just on the simplest most basic level, there were 250 people with cell phones, and I'm sure they had onboard wifi, they can't use the telcom satellites to triangulate the last ping...? Or is there some reason that would not be feasible...?
They can do that if the location is known. The oceans is so vast and there is not enough satellite to scan it.