You can track most commercial planes in real time using free websites and apps that pull data from aircraft transponders

When a plane is in the air, it broadcasts its location, altitude, and speed through a device called an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder. Ground stations and satellites pick up this signal and feed it to public tracking websites. You do not need special permission or a paid subscription to see where most planes are flying right now — the data is openly available.

The most common tracking sites are FlightRadar24, FlightAware, and Plane Finder. Each pulls the same basic transponder data but displays it differently. FlightRadar24 shows a live map with plane icons, altitude, speed, and route. FlightAware focuses on commercial flights and includes scheduled arrival and departure times. Plane Finder works similarly to FlightRadar24 but is lighter on system resources if you are using an older device.

Military planes, private jets, and some government aircraft do not broadcast their location, so they will not appear on these maps. If a plane is not showing up, it is either not equipped with ADS-B, has the transponder turned off, or is not a commercial flight.

Key Takeaways

  • FlightRadar24 and FlightAware are the two largest free tracking sites and show real-time location, altitude, speed, and route for most commercial aircraft.
  • The data comes from ADS-B transponders that planes broadcast continuously during flight, received by ground stations and satellites worldwide.
  • Military planes, private jets, and some government aircraft do not appear on public tracking maps because they do not broadcast their location.
  • You can track a specific flight by searching the airline name and flight number, or by clicking on any plane icon on the live map.

How to find a specific flight on FlightRadar24

Open FlightRadar24.com or the mobile app. In the search box at the top left, type the airline and flight number — for example, "United 447" or "Delta 1205". The site will show you the current location of that plane on the map, along with its altitude, ground speed, and the route it is flying.

If you do not know the flight number, you can search by airport code instead. Type the departure airport code (like LAX for Los Angeles) and the site will show all planes that recently left from there. You can also click on any plane icon on the map to see its flight number, destination, and other details.

The map updates every few seconds. If a plane has already landed, the tracking will stop and you will see its final position on the runway or at the gate. Historical data is usually available for the past 7 days, so you can look up flights that already completed.

How to find a flight on FlightAware

Go to FlightAware.com and use the search bar at the top. Enter the airline and flight number, or just the flight number if you know it. FlightAware will show the plane's current position, altitude, and speed, plus scheduled arrival and departure times.

FlightAware also displays gate information at major airports, so you can see which gate a plane is assigned to before it lands. If the flight has already landed, you will see the actual arrival time and how many minutes early or late it was. This makes FlightAware especially useful if you are tracking a flight you are supposed to pick up or meet.

Like FlightRadar24, FlightAware updates in real time and keeps historical records. You can also set up notifications for a specific flight, though the free version limits how many alerts you can create.

What information you can see while a plane is flying

Both tracking sites show the same core data: the plane's current latitude and longitude, altitude in feet, ground speed in knots or miles per hour, and the direction it is heading. You will also see the aircraft type (Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and so on) and the airline.

FlightRadar24 displays the route as a line on the map showing where the plane has been and where it is headed. FlightAware shows scheduled arrival time and often includes a progress bar so you can see how far through the flight the plane is. Neither site shows the cabin crew, passenger count, or cargo details — that information is not broadcast.

If a plane is delayed on the ground, the tracking sites will show it sitting at the gate or on the tarmac. Once it pushes back and the engines start, the transponder becomes active and the plane will appear on the map moving toward the runway.

Why some planes do not show up on tracking maps

Military aircraft, government planes, and many private jets do not transmit ADS-B signals to the public. Their transponders either broadcast on a different frequency or are turned off entirely. This is why you will never see Air Force One, military transport planes, or most charter flights on FlightRadar24.

Some commercial airlines also request that certain flights be hidden from public tracking for security reasons. This is rare but does happen. If you search for a flight number and it does not appear, the plane may be one of these exceptions.

A few planes are equipped with older radar transponders that do not broadcast ADS-B data. These aircraft are becoming less common as aviation authorities require newer equipment, but some regional carriers and older aircraft still use the older standard.

Using plane tracking to understand flight delays

If your flight is delayed, tracking the plane can show you why. If the aircraft has not yet arrived at your departure airport, you can see exactly where it is and estimate when it will land. If it is already on the ground but the departure time keeps moving back, the delay is likely due to crew scheduling, maintenance, or air traffic control, not the plane itself.

Tracking also shows you the actual route the plane is flying. Sometimes planes do not fly in a straight line — they follow air traffic control instructions, avoid weather, or take advantage of jet streams. If a flight is taking longer than expected, the tracking map will show whether the plane is flying a longer route than usual.

During bad weather, you can watch planes divert to alternate airports or circle while waiting for conditions to improve. This real-time view often explains delays better than a generic message from the airline.

Mobile apps versus web browsers

FlightRadar24 and FlightAware both offer free mobile apps for iOS and Android. The apps work the same way as the websites but are optimized for smaller screens and use less data. If you are tracking a flight while at the airport or on the go, the app is usually faster and more convenient.

The web versions work on any device with a browser and do not require installation. They are useful if you want to track multiple flights at once or if you prefer a larger map view. Both versions update in real time and show the same information.

Some people use both — the app on their phone while traveling and the website on a computer at home. There is no cost difference between them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track a plane if I do not know the flight number?

Yes. On FlightRadar24 or FlightAware, you can search by the departure and arrival airport codes, or you can click on any plane icon on the live map to see its flight number and destination. If you know roughly when the plane took off, you can narrow down which one is yours by looking at planes heading in the right direction.

Do pilots know they are being tracked on these websites?

Yes. The ADS-B transponder is a required safety device, and pilots know it broadcasts their location to air traffic control and to the public. The data is not secret — it is part of how the aviation system works. Military and government planes straightforward do not broadcast on the public frequency.

Can I see a plane's exact flight path before it takes off?

You can see the scheduled route on FlightAware, which shows the planned path from departure to arrival. The actual route the plane flies may differ slightly due to air traffic control instructions or weather. Once the plane is in the air, the tracking map shows the real route it is flying.

What does it mean if a plane suddenly disappears from the map?

Usually it means the plane has landed and the transponder is no longer broadcasting, or the plane has flown out of range of the ground stations receiving the signal. In rare cases, a transponder malfunction or a switch to a different frequency can cause a plane to vanish from the map temporarily. Commercial planes do not actually disappear — they are always in contact with air traffic control.

Are these tracking sites accurate?

The location data is accurate to within a few hundred feet, updated every few seconds. Altitude and speed are also reliable. The main limitation is that the data depends on ground station coverage, so planes over remote ocean areas may have gaps in tracking. In populated areas over land, coverage is nearly continuous.