U.S. Air Force disables virtually all flight tracking transponders

On January 3, 2026, the U.S. Air Force has disabled virtually all flight tracking transponders, resulting in a significant reduction in visible flight activity. This action has led to a situation where no flights are currently visible on flight tracking platforms such as FlightRadar24.

This development marks a notable change in the operational protocols of the U.S. Air Force, which typically maintains visibility of its aircraft for safety and coordination purposes. The reasons behind this decision have not been disclosed.

For more information on this topic, see recent developments regarding the U.S. Air Force"s actions.

Further context on related events can be found in earlier coverage of other significant incidents, such as the total power blackout in Caracas following multiple explosions.