well, according to an automatic message sent from the aircraft's communication system, called acars. richard quest is an aviation correspondent for cnn. >> think of acars as a giant smartphone, that will send out huge amounts of information via satellite or by radio transmission. >> then at 1:19 a.m., a standard handoff with air traffic control, as the plane leaves malaysian air space, and enters vietnamese air space. >> malaysian 370, contact hoe chi minute 120 decimal 9 good night. >> the controller here, attempting to speech to ho chi minh, and he says good night, 370. something i would do. >> there is no indication that anything had gone wrong. >> david soucie is a former safety inspector for the faa.