@flightradar24. Hi James, the colored dots represent delay status: Green = on time, yellow = 15-45 min delay, red = 45+ min delay.

On Flightradar24, a red dot typically indicates an aircraft that is on the ground (parked, taxiing, or at a gate).

Here’s a quick breakdown of the common aircraft icons and their meanings:

• Red dot (●): Aircraft on the ground.
• Yellow dot (●): Aircraft in flight, but with no altitude data (Mode-S only).
• Blue dot (●): Aircraft in flight, with altitude data available (the most common in-flight icon).

Important Context and Exceptions

1. Ground vs. Air: The primary purpose of the red dot is to instantly distinguish between airborne (yellow/blue) and ground (red) positions.
2. Data Source: The color is determined by the data received. If the aircraft is transmitting its position but not its altitude, it will appear as a yellow dot even if it’s technically on the ground. However, the system usually correctly identifies ground positions and shows red.
3. No History/ Trail: Aircraft on the ground (red dots) do not leave a flight track history trail on the map, unlike aircraft in flight.
4. Other Colors: You might also occasionally see:
   • Magenta/Purple dot: Featured aircraft, often from FR24’s “Silver” subscription or special highlighted flights.
   • Orange “U” icon: An aircraft transmitting an emergency code (Squawk 7700, 7600, or 7500).

How to Confirm

If you click or tap on the red dot, the aircraft’s information box will open