False. The HBAL617 balloon seen on Flightradar24 is not the Chinese aircraft suspected of surveillance by a U.S. official which flew over northwestern U.S. and Montana. HBAL617 belongs to U.S. company Aerostar.

No, you cannot typically see a "spy balloon" or high-altitude surveillance craft on Flightradar24 in 2026. These objects do not operate with standard ADS-B transponders, which are the primary data source for civilian flight tracking apps. While many people in recent years have mistaken high-altitude weather or research balloons (like those from Aerostar) for surveillance craft on the app, actual foreign military or intelligence balloons are "dark" to public tracking. In 2026, aviation enthusiasts often rely on Pilot Reports (PIREPs) or military-specific radar data to identify such objects. If a balloon does appear on the app, it is usually because it is a civilian research vessel legally required to broadcast its position for air traffic safety. For genuine surveillance threats, the public usually only learns the exact coordinates after the government or military issues a formal briefing or enacts a "Temporary Flight Restriction" (TFR) in the area.