Instead, they had their eyes glued to the cockpit instrument panel, which showed key information such as airspeed, altitude, Angle of flight, and fuel and oxygen supply.

The French officials said the pilots of flight 447 were guided by false readings from airspeed indicators as they tried to control the plane through turbulent weather.

To make an official attempt on the record, Sikorsky will need to have the flight monitored by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which compiles airspeed records.