Phones can 'ring' (with some network providers) when the battery is flat, when there's no signal, or when there's no voicemail set up.
As far as them showing as available on social networking sites - if you haven't signed out, or are still signed in on another device - it'll show you as 'online' until it automatically times out.. hence the stories you're reading. Jetliners can't just disappear (on land), and unless data recording equipment and such is disconnected, there are ways to track them. Unless it's under water.
Personally, I think it came down miles and miles off course. They'll find it eventually.
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