# Flightradar24

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="262.6666259765625"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Flightradar24</strong></td><td><strong>Quick Overview</strong></td></tr><tr><td>URL</td><td><a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/">https://www.flightradar24.com/</a> </td></tr><tr><td>What it does</td><td>Tracks aircraft around the world and displays them on an interactive map.</td></tr><tr><td>How to use it</td><td>Open the map and explore aircraft flying in real time. You can search by flight number, airline, airport, or location to see more detailed information.</td></tr><tr><td>Cost</td><td>Basic searches are free with optional paid subscription plans that unlock additional features and historical data.</td></tr><tr><td>Account required</td><td>No account is needed for basic use. An account is required for advanced features and subscriptions.</td></tr><tr><td>Cookies</td><td>The website uses cookies for site functionality, analytics, and user preferences.</td></tr><tr><td>Ownership</td><td>Operated by the company Flightradar24 AB, based in Sweden, founded by Mikael Robertsson and Olov Lindberg.</td></tr><tr><td>Use in Reporting</td><td>Monitor flights connected to breaking news, track aircraft linked to political figures or military activity, and verify the movement of planes involved in incidents or investigations.</td></tr></tbody></table>

### **What does Flightradar24 do?**&#x20;

Flightradar24 is a live flight tracking tool that collects aircraft location data and displays it on a global map. It allows users to see aircraft movements in near real time and access additional details about flights and aircraft.

**The lowdown:** It’s a really useful OSINT tool for tracking real-time civilian aircraft movements and spotting patterns in aviation activity, but bear in mind its data is incomplete in terms of military, private or blocked aircraft.&#x20;

### How to Use:

**1. Go to the** [**Flightradar24 website**](https://www.flightradar24.com/) **and open the live flight map.**

<figure><img src="/files/yaPr1xR3gNWcHLR5JjLP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**2. Zoom into a specific region or search for a flight number, airport, airline, or aircraft registration.**

**3. Click on a plane icon on the map to view detailed flight information such as route, speed, altitude, aircraft model, and estimated arrival time.**

<figure><img src="/files/H2u2vQvZhhZD9oEAx0lR" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Cost:

* [ ] Paid
* [x] Partially Free
* [ ] Free

The free version allows users to track flights and view basic information. Paid subscriptions provide additional features such as longer historical flight playback and advanced filters.

## Data Processing

### Account required:

* [x] Yes
* [x] No

Users can access the live map without an account, but registration is required for subscriptions and additional tools.

### Cookies:&#x20;

The website uses cookies to support core functionality, remember user settings, and collect analytics about how the platform is used.

### &#x20;Use in Reporting

Flightradar24 can support journalism and OSINT investigations by helping to:

* Track aircraft movements during breaking news events.
* Verify the location and route of specific flights.
* Monitor aircraft linked to governments, military operations, or private individuals.
* Investigate aviation incidents or unusual flight activity.
* Analyse historical flight paths using playback features.

Journalists often use the platform to visually confirm where an aircraft was at a particular time.

As a real-world example, following the disappearance of MH17 over Ukraine, [Flightradar24 was the primary source ](https://www.key.aero/article/how-flightradar24-works#:~:text=To%20gain%20insight%20into%20global,course%20of%20hurricanes%20and%20storms.\&text=That%20Flightradar24%20began%2015%20years,hosting%20a%20receiver%20to%20apply.%E2%80%9D)of up-to-date tracking information used by investigators to determine the plane's last known position before the ADS-B transponder stopped transmitting. This data was instrumental in identifying the location and time of the incident.

| **Capabilities**                                                                                   | **Limitations**                                                                                                                                                       |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Allows users to search for flights by flight number, airline, aircraft registration or airport.    | It may not display all aircraft, particularly some military or private flights. Certain aircraft operators can request their flights be blocked from public tracking. |
| Provides flight details such as route, altitude, speed, aircraft type, and estimated arrival time. | It relies on publicly available tracking data, which may have gaps in coverage in certain regions.                                                                    |
| Allows users to replay past flight activity using historical playback features.                    | Some advanced features and longer historical data require a paid subscription.                                                                                        |
| Allows users to track history of certain aircraft.                                                 | Flight information may occasionally be delayed/incomplete depending on the data source.                                                                               |
| Displays airport activity, including arrivals and departures.                                      | <p><br></p>                                                                                                                                                           |
| Allows monitoring of aviation activity in specific regions or during major events.                 | <p><br></p>                                                                                                                                                           |

### Summary

Flightradar24 is a simple and accessible tool that provides valuable insight into global air traffic and aircraft activity. However, it is important to remember that the platform does not show every aircraft and some flights may be hidden or missing due to coverage gaps, privacy requests, or technical limitations.

### Ownership

Flightradar24 is operated by the company Flightradar24 AB, based in Sweden, founded by Mikael Robertsson and Olov Lindberg.

### Ethical Considerations:

* Flight tracking can reveal sensitive travel information about individuals or organisations.
* Some aircraft operators request that their flights are not publicly displayed for safety or privacy reasons.
* When reporting on aircraft movements, it is important to verify information across multiple sources.
* Researchers should avoid misinterpreting flight data without additional context, especially in security or military situations.

### Related Tools:

* ADS-B Exchange
* FlightAware
* Plane Finder

#### Sources:

<https://www.flightradar24.com/>

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightradar24>&#x20;

<https://github.com/The-Osint-Toolbox/Flight-And-Marine-OSINT>&#x20;

<https://www.key.aero/article/how-flightradar24-works#:~:text=To%20gain%20insight%20into%20global,course%20of%20hurricanes%20and%20storms.&text=That%20Flightradar24%20began%2015%20years,hosting%20a%20receiver%20to%20apply.%E2%80%9D>


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