Why Some Aircraft Are Hidden on Flight Trackers

Some aircraft are hidden or missing on flight trackers because the owner asked for privacy, because the flight is military or government, or because the aircraft is not transmitting.

Privacy programmes

In some countries, aircraft owners can request that their flights not be shown publicly, for security or commercial privacy. In the United States this is done through a list for limited display of aircraft data. Some aircraft also use a privacy feature that changes the aircraft’s address in broadcasts.

Owner requests

Some trackers remove an aircraft from their display at the owner’s request. This usually applies to private jets. Airlines do not normally ask for this.

Military and government flights

Many military aircraft do not transmit ADS-B, or transmit only some of the time. Some government flights are shown, some are not.

Technical reasons

An aircraft can be absent because it has no ADS-B, is out of range, or has its transponder switched off. See why flights disappear from the map.

Is hiding legal?

Yes where the rules provide for it. The broadcasts themselves are open, so anyone with a receiver can decode them; privacy programmes limit publication, not the signal. Read is flight tracking legal.

General information only, not legal or safety advice. Details change; check with your airline and the relevant authority. See our editorial policy.