Yes, you can track most commercial flights in real time
You can watch a plane move across the sky on a map while it is flying. Most commercial aircraft broadcast their location, altitude, speed, and direction continuously. This information is publicly available through free websites and apps that collect and display it. You do not need special permission or a ticket on that flight to see where it is.
The tracking works because aircraft transmit a signal called ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) that includes their position and other flight data. Ground receivers pick up this signal and send it to tracking services. If you know a flight number, tail number, or the airline and departure city, you can find that specific plane on a map within seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Free websites like FlightRadar24, FlightAware, and Flightradar24 show the real-time location of most commercial flights on a map.
- You can search by flight number (like United 447), airline name, or aircraft tail number to find a specific plane.
- The map shows altitude, speed, direction, and estimated arrival time, updated every few seconds while the plane is airborne.
- Some military and private aircraft do not broadcast their location, so you cannot track every plane in the sky.
- Tracking works best for flights over land and populated areas where ground receivers are dense; coverage is thinner over oceans.
The main tracking websites and what they show
FlightRadar24 is the most widely used free tracker. Go to flightradar24.com, type a flight number into the search box (for example, "AA100" for American Airlines 100), and the map will center on that plane. You see a small aircraft icon moving in real time, with a line showing the flight path. Click on the plane icon and a sidebar appears with the current altitude, ground speed, direction, and estimated arrival time.
FlightAware (flightaware.com) works the same way. Search by flight number or airline, and you get a live map plus a detailed timeline showing when the plane took off, when it is expected to land, and any delays. FlightAware also tracks historical flight data, so you can look up past flights to see how often a route runs late.
Radarbox (radarbox.com) and ADSBExchange (adsbexchange.com) are two other free options. All four sites pull from the same basic data source — the ADS-B signals from planes — but they display it slightly differently. Pick whichever interface feels clearest to you.
How to search for a specific flight
The easiest way is to search by flight number. If you are tracking a flight for someone arriving, ask them for the flight number before they board. It is usually on the boarding pass or confirmation email and looks like "UA447" or "DL1205" — the airline code plus a number.
Go to any of the tracking sites, paste the flight number into the search box, and press Enter. The map will show you that plane if it is currently in the air. If the flight has not taken off yet, the site will show you the scheduled departure time and gate information (if available). If the flight has already landed, you will see the arrival time and gate.
If you do not have the flight number, you can search by airline and route. Type "United from Chicago to Denver" or just select the airline and departure/arrival cities from dropdown menus. The site will show you all flights on that route currently in the air or scheduled soon. This is useful if you know roughly when someone is flying but not the exact flight number.
You can also search by tail number — the aircraft registration code painted on the fuselage. It looks like "N12345" for US planes. This is helpful if you want to track a specific airplane rather than a specific flight.
What information you see on the map
When you click on a plane icon, the tracking site shows you several pieces of information updated in real time. The altitude is how high the plane is flying, usually shown in feet. Commercial jets cruise between 30,000 and 43,000 feet. The ground speed is how fast the plane is moving over the ground (not through the air), typically 450 to 550 miles per hour at cruise. The direction is the heading the plane is flying, shown as a compass direction or degree number.
You also see the estimated arrival time, which updates as the plane gets closer. If the plane is ahead of schedule, the site may show a green indicator; if it is behind, you might see orange or red. The flight path appears as a line on the map showing where the plane has been and where it is headed. Some sites also show the planned route as a dotted line.
The sidebar usually includes the aircraft type (Boeing 737, Airbus A320, etc.), the airline, and sometimes the origin and destination airports. A few sites show the number of passengers or cargo weight, though this information is not always available.
Why some flights cannot be tracked
Most commercial flights broadcast their location and can be tracked. However, some aircraft do not transmit ADS-B signals or have them turned off. Military planes, government aircraft, and some private jets often do not broadcast their position for security reasons. If you search for a flight and nothing appears, it is usually because that specific aircraft is not transmitting, not because the tracking service is broken.
Additionally, tracking coverage is not uniform worldwide. Over the continental United States and Europe, ground receivers are dense and coverage is nearly complete. Over oceans, deserts, and remote areas, coverage is thinner. A plane flying over the Atlantic may disappear from the map for stretches because there are fewer receivers to pick up its signal.
Tracking a delayed or diverted flight
If a flight is delayed, the tracking map shows you where the plane actually is, not where it was supposed to be. If a plane is still on the ground at the departure airport past its scheduled takeoff time, the map will show it parked at the gate. You can watch it push back and taxi to the runway in real time.
If a flight is diverted to a different airport due to weather or mechanical issues, the map will show the plane changing course. The tracking site will update the destination airport and new estimated arrival time. This is often faster than waiting for an airline notification, especially if the diversion happens suddenly.
Some sites, particularly FlightAware, also show historical delay data for that flight number. You can see whether this route typically runs on time or frequently arrives late, which helps you set realistic expectations for when someone will land.
Using tracking to plan ground transportation
Real-time flight tracking is useful for coordinating pickups or drop-offs. Instead of guessing when someone will land, you can watch the plane descend and know roughly when they will clear the airport and be ready for pickup. Most planes land 15 to 30 minutes before passengers exit the terminal, so add that buffer to your estimate.
If you are dropping someone off, you can track their outbound flight to confirm it is on time before you leave home. If the flight is delayed by an hour, you can leave an hour later and save time sitting in the airport parking lot.
For connecting flights, tracking both legs helps you know whether someone will make their connection. If the first flight is running very late, you can see in real time whether they will arrive at the connection airport with enough time to make the next flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay to track a flight?
No. FlightRadar24, FlightAware, Radarbox, and ADSBExchange all offer free tracking on their websites and mobile apps. They make money through ads and premium subscriptions that add extra features, but basic real-time tracking is free for everyone.
Can I track a flight if I do not have the flight number?
Yes. You can search by airline and route (for example, "Southwest from Las Vegas to Denver") and see all flights on that route currently in the air. You can also search by tail number if you know the aircraft registration. However, if you only know the person's name, you cannot track their flight without the flight number.
How often does the map update?
Most tracking sites update every 5 to 15 seconds while a plane is in the air. The exact interval depends on how often the aircraft broadcasts its ADS-B signal and how quickly the tracking service receives and displays it. You should see smooth movement across the map, not jumpy updates.
Can airlines see that I am tracking their flight?
No. Tracking a flight through a public website does not notify the airline or anyone on the plane. The data you are viewing is publicly broadcast by the aircraft itself, and thousands of people may be viewing the same flight at the same time.
What if the plane disappears from the map?
If a plane vanishes from the map, it usually means it has landed and the tracking site is no longer receiving its signal. Occasionally, a plane may drop off the map briefly if it flies through an area with poor receiver coverage, then reappear. If a plane disappears mid-flight over land and does not reappear, it is extremely rare — contact the airline directly for information.