Aircraft operators are required to report detailed information on their flight path to various national regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration. That data is generally a matter of public record and is published to various websites popular amongst airline enthusiasts.

Yes, flight tracking data is largely public, though it is a bit more complicated than a simple "yes." Most modern aircraft are equipped with ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) technology, which broadcasts the plane's GPS location, altitude, and speed on an unencrypted 1090 MHz frequency. Enthusiasts and companies like FlightRadar24 and FlightAware use a global network of ground receivers to pick up these signals and display them in real-time. While the data is public, certain "high-profile" flights—such as military aircraft, government jets, or private planes owned by individuals who have requested to join the LADD (Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed) program—may have their tail numbers obscured or their tracks hidden from mainstream commercial websites. However, because the raw radio signals are still being broadcast, "open" tracking communities like ADSBexchange often continue to show these flights, making it nearly impossible for a plane to be completely "invisible" to the public once it enters civilian airspace.