On this Christmas Eve, we will show you how to track Santa for Christmas 2025.
Every Christmas Eve, millions of people track Santa Claus as he delivers gifts around the world.
While the traditional and officially sanctioned way is through the NORAD Santa Tracker, aviation enthusiasts have discovered a fun alternative: using Flightradar24.
Although Santa’s sleigh is not an actual aircraft, FlightRadar24 can still be used creatively to follow a “Santa-like” journey in near real time.
This year, you can genuinely follow Santa Claus’s global journey in real time using Flightradar24 — not just a simulated map, but an actual tracked object on the live flight map.
On Christmas Eve 2025, Santa’s magical sleigh has become one of the most tracked “flights” on the platform, listed under the identifier R3DN053.
Flightradar24 is a global flight-tracking service that shows aircraft positions in real time using ADS-B, MLAT, and satellite data.
Normally you’d use it to watch passenger jets, cargo flights, or private aircraft around the world, but during the holiday season the site launches a special Santa Tracker feature that overlays Santa’s sleigh on the map just like any other flight.
What You’re Actually Seeing
While magical in spirit, the Santa track on Flightradar24 isn’t a random dots display — it behaves like a real flight object.
According to reports this Christmas Eve, Santa’s sleigh is visible on Flightradar24 with his unique callsign and is currently being followed across the globe.
The sleigh appears alongside thousands of other aircraft, complete with altitude, heading, and position updates as Santa makes his way from the North Pole and around the world delivering presents.
Lots of families and aviation fans have logged on to see R3DN053 as it crosses regions from the Pacific to Europe and beyond.
How to Track Santa Step by Step
- Go to the Flightradar24 Website or App
Open Flightradar24 in your browser or mobile app. You don’t need a subscription to see the Santa sleigh, though premium features (like 3D view) might enhance the fun. - Search for Santa’s Identifier
In the search box, enter R3DN053 — this is the flight identifier currently used for Santa’s sleigh. In some years the site has also allowed searches like SANTA1, HOHOHO, or even the registration HOHOHO to find the sleigh. - Tap or Click on the Sleigh Icon
Once the sleigh appears on the map, select it. You’ll see details like the callsign, current position, and perhaps fun, festive metadata associated with the journey. - (Optional) Switch to 3D View
On both web and app, Flightradar24 offers a 3D button. This lets you see Santa’s sleigh flying over terrain from different angles — a fun way to visualize his progress.
Why It Works
Flightradar24’s Santa tracker blends real flight-tracking infrastructure with seasonal creativity.
Each year, Flightradar24 adds this animated sleigh object to their network so users can enjoy Santa’s progress just like tracking a long-haul jet.
The data is playful, but it’s presented the same way as any other flight: live on the map, with updates and movement across continents.
Make It a Holiday Tradition to Track Santa
To track santa on Flightradar24 has become part of many families’ Christmas Eve tradition.
It’s a fun way to combine real-world technology with holiday magic, encouraging kids (and adults) to watch geography and time zones tick by as Santa delivers gifts around the globe.
Whether you’re gathering around a tablet, casting your screen to the TV, or simply following along on your phone, Flightradar24’s Santa tracker brings a bit of aviation excitement to Christmas Eve — and lets you say with confidence that you can literally see Santa in flight.
On behalf of us at The Aviation Hub, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy new year as we inch closer to 2026!
