Is it possible and in what cases to find out the list of aircraft passengers?

There are situations when a person is interested in the question of how to find out the list of passengers for a flight by plane. But you need to understand that airline employees can give out such information only in extreme cases, otherwise it is punishable by law.


Even if your intentions are honest and harmless, for example, there is a need to choose a seat on the plane away from mothers with children or not to meet friends on a specific flight, such a list is almost impossible to obtain. There are strict restrictions and rules according to which it is prohibited to disclose information about third parties.

Why and who needs passenger lists?

If not long ago it was possible to call the airline's representative office, explain a personal situation and obtain information about a specific person traveling by plane, today it has become much more difficult. After all, the rights of customers are protected by the federal law "On Personal Data".

This is because the disclosure of such information is fraught with serious consequences. You can find out the list of passengers in order to:

  1. Scams, such as impersonating another person.
  2. Robbery of empty houses when the owners are on vacation or business trip.
  3. Attacking passengers knowing where and when to meet them.
  4. Get information about the contacts and movements of competitors.
  5. Establish the fact of treason, etc.

Therefore, such secrecy after several incidents has become an important guarantee of the safety of the flight. And today, not a single airline or airport employee has the right to disclose the lists of registered passengers for the flight, except in extreme cases. Otherwise, it threatens with dismissal, and sometimes with legal proceedings and imprisonment.

David McKelvey / flickr.com

If you want to surprise a loved one, check and control the movement of a relative or friend and, under other personal circumstances, find out the lists of tourists or even something about a specific passenger.

When does the company provide data about third parties?

The law provides for certain situations when the disclosure of such lists is permissible:

  • in case of an official request from the police, FSB, tax, fiscal service;
  • in case of an aircraft accident;
  • when an unexpected landing is made due to technical or weather problems.

A separate situation is considered a crash of an airliner in the air, during landing or takeoff. In this case, an operational headquarters is created, which controls all actions:

  1. Collect information about the registered passengers for a specific flight, clarify whether they have passed the boarding.
  2. They check the condition of everyone after the accident and provide information about this to the next of kin and the mass media.
  3. They organize the work of a "hot line" through which you can contact and get the necessary information.
  4. Maintain close contact with the media and provide access to news coverage from the scene.

How do you know if a person has flown on a specific plane?

If the situation is related to emergency, then you can see the list of passengers on the Internet, on news resources, or find out on TV. After checking all the data, the airline is obliged to publish a list of people on board on the official website.

Also, in such cases, a hotline works, after recognizing the phone number of which you can call and clarify whether your relative or acquaintance was among the victims. It is possible to contact directly and with the employees of the operational headquarters, who have complete information about the victims.

In all other situations, it is almost impossible to obtain the necessary information. Sometimes the following methods are used:

  • Contact a travel agency if a person ordered a ticket with their help. Then, by establishing personal contact with the operator, you can find out the details of the relative's flight. But even this situation is unacceptable by law, so employees can only make concessions privately, endangering their place of work.
  • If you call the airline's office and explain your personal situation, you can also try to convince the operator to tell you the information you need. But this usually only happens if the passenger's mental or physical health threatens the safety of the flight. In this case, such information must be documented. But airline employees usually sign a separate paper on non-disclosure of information about third parties when hiring. Therefore, by law, they do not have the right to discuss such things.
  • Today, there are many options on the Internet where, using any mobile application, program or website, it is possible to obtain the necessary information about the passengers of a particular flight. In most cases, this is a fraud, since they cannot get such information on their own, but they are able to extract from the client his passport data, credit card number, etc. Sometimes such a request frankly requires a cash payment, after which no one provides information. Please note that it will not work to complain about such manipulations to the police, since a person who tried to obtain confidential information about third parties is considered an accomplice in the crime.

Such secrecy guarantees you, as an aircraft passenger, complete security of your personal data. Without special need and an official decree, no one will know whether you were checked in for the flight, where you sat, with whom you traveled, what you ate, drank and other information.

If your loved ones need to know when the plane will arrive, whether it is necessary to meet you, how much luggage you are carrying, all this should be discussed in a personal telephone conversation.

Video: what you need to know when boarding a plane?

Airline and airport employees may not only lose their jobs when disclosing data, but also be liable to court. Criminal or administrative liability, dismissal and fines maximize the fact that employees most often adhere to such rules and keep information about third parties secret.

Of course, the situations are different, but scammers are also able to come up with any emotional story in order to find out the necessary information. Therefore, experienced operators are trained to keep passenger data in strict secrecy and not to disclose it to outsiders.