Print. Information about a small number of flights may be limited or blocked based on requests from owners or operators via third-party services, such as the FAA LADD. Some high-profile aircraft, such as Air Force One, are not displayed.

When a flight appears as "blocked" or "restricted" on tracking apps like FlightRadar24 or FlightAware, it usually means the owner or operator of the aircraft has requested that their specific flight data be hidden from public view. This is common for private jets owned by high-profile celebrities, government officials, or corporations. In the United States, this is handled through the LADD (Limiting Aircraft Data Display) program or the PIA (Privacy ICAO Address) program. Even though the aircraft is still transmitting ADS-B signals for safety and air traffic control purposes, the tracking websites agree to filter out the registration number and flight path to protect the occupants' privacy and security. Occasionally, military aircraft or sensitive transport missions are also blocked for national security reasons. If you see an aircraft icon with no labels or one that says "Blocked" in the info panel, the plane is still physically there and being tracked by radar, but the public "metadata"—such as where it took off from or who owns it—is being suppressed. In 2026, privacy advocates and flight-tracking enthusiasts continue to debate the balance between public transparency and the personal security of private individuals.

Excellent question! When you see a flight “blocked” on Flightradar24 (or similar flight tracking services), it means that the aircraft’s identifying information (its ICAO hex code, flight number, registration, and sometimes its position) is being intentionally hidden or masked from public view on the tracker.

Here’s a breakdown of what it means, why it happens, and what you still might see:

What You Typically See for a “Blocked” Flight:

• Aircraft Icon: You will often still see an aircraft icon moving on the map.
• No Identifying Data: When you click on that icon, the information box will be mostly empty. Key details like Flight Number, Aircraft Registration (e.g., N12345), Call sign, and Aircraft Type will be missing or replaced with generic codes (like “BLOCKED” or a series of zeros).
• Generic Data: You might still see basic information like Altitude, Speed, and Heading, which are derived from the raw ADS-B signal, but not the identity attached to it.

---

Primary Reasons Why a Flight is Blocked:

1. Military or Government Operations:

   • This is the most common reason. Military aircraft, government VIP transports (like Air Force One/Two), intelligence aircraft, and some law enforcement flights often request privacy. They broadcast ADS-B signals for safety but don’t want their mission details public.

2. High-Profile Private Jets:

   • Celebrities, billionaires, and high-ranking corporate executives frequently block their flights for privacy and security reasons. They don’t want their travel patterns and locations