Is there a real no fly list?

The No Fly List is a small subset of the U.S. government Terrorist Screening Database (also known as the terrorist watchlist) that contains the identity information of known or suspected terrorists. This database is maintained by the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center.



Yes, there is a very real and highly restricted No Fly List, which is a subset of the broader U.S. government Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) maintained by the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center. Individuals on this list are strictly prohibited from boarding any commercial aircraft that flies into, out of, or over United States airspace. In 2026, while the exact number of names is classified, it is estimated to contain several thousand people. [Image showing the process of TSA Secure Flight passenger data screening against the No Fly List] It is important to distinguish the federal No Fly List from the "Internal Banned Lists" maintained by individual airlines (like Delta or United). If you are banned from Delta for unruly behavior, you can still fly on American; however, if you are on the federal No Fly List, you cannot fly on any airline. If you are frequently stopped for "Secondary Security Screening Selection" (SSSS) on your boarding pass, you are not necessarily on the No Fly List, but likely on a "Selectee List" that requires extra scrutiny. Legitimate travelers who believe they have been misidentified can seek "Redress" through the DHS TRIP program to obtain a Redress Number.

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“The entire US no-fly list — with 1.5 million+ entries — was found on an unsecured server by a Swiss hacker,” Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N. C.), who sits on the House Homeland Security Committee, wrote in a tweet. “Besides the fact that the list is a civil liberties nightmare, how was this info so easily accessible?”

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If SSSS appears on your boarding pass regularly, you can apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). That program may remove you from whatever mysterious watch list you may be on — if you're not a security threat, that is.

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“Meet Mikey Hicks,” said Najlah Feanny Hicks, introducing her 8-year-old son, a New Jersey Cub Scout and frequent traveler who has seldom boarded a plane without a hassle because he shares the name of a suspicious person. “It's not a myth.”

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Government watch list checks identify people who are suspected terrorists or are otherwise barred from working within specific industries by federal or state governments.

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If you're on an airline no fly list They'll just deny you a boarding pass or not sell you a ticket. These are usually people banned by the airline for misbehaving on previous flights. The airlines don't enforce government no fly lists. TSA and law enforcement do.

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TSA doesn't publish specific guidelines on why certain passengers get SSSS markings on their boarding passes. Anecdotally, passengers with unusual travel patterns, one-way international flights and travelers to certain countries get it the most. It is also possible that TSA assigns SSSS markings randomly.

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