![Well, Im convinced now. [592x1206 - 126KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/16XGCs.jpg){kind=link}
The max speeds are wrong. Airspeed at flight level is well into the 600s. At ground level, they shouldn't pass 450 knots, but won't necessarily disintegrate without maneuvering or after long periods of time. Airspeed and groundspeed are completely different measurements because of aerodynamic forces due to air resistance at different elevations. But plenty of planes have survived excessive airspeeds, but it's just past the safety rating. Hell, planes even fall apart under max groundspeed because of sharp maneuvering, like the DC-10 in CA that was dropping retardant on the wildfires. Straight lines are a completely different story.
Are those speeds indeed too fast for 2001's cell phone technology to have made a connection?
Those speeds are too fast for most towers today.
Probably, but I only know about airplane speeds (as opposed to cell phone speeds) because of my former job. I know that even today, planes on landing approach (max speed 250 knots in class B airspace, but typically below 200, down to mid 100s for actual landing) still make it hard to keep a signal. At full flight speed, it would be impossible, but at landing speeds, it becomes possible. I think the cell phone connection speed maximum is around 150-200 knots so it's totally possible when approaching landing, but definitely not going to happen at full speed. Or at crash speeds, like on 9/11.
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