Flight Radar pulled off one of the coolest April Fool’s pranks in recent memory by making thousands of people believe that Concorde was back in the skies. On April 1, 2025, internet users tracking flights in real time were stunned to see an Air France-operated Concorde appearing on their screens. As word spread, more than 50,000 people followed the aircraft’s progress live, eagerly watching as it seemingly made its way from Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York’s JFK Airport.
For a brief moment, it seemed as though aviation history had been rewritten. The flight, listed as AF9999, was scheduled to complete the journey in just three and a half hours, a feat that only the supersonic Concorde could achieve. Many users, both skeptical and hopeful, checked the aircraft’s details, only to find a silhouette unmistakably resembling the sleek, needle-nosed design of the legendary White Bird. The prospect of Concorde’s return electrified aviation enthusiasts around the world.
But as excitement built, some users began to take a closer look at the date. It was April 1, and the realization soon set in—Flight Radar had orchestrated an elaborate hoax. The joke, masterfully executed, sent social media into a frenzy as people debated whether it could possibly be real. The deception was so convincing that even some seasoned aviation fans momentarily questioned their instincts.
As if one Concorde flight wasn’t enough, a second appeared later in the day, departing from London’s Heathrow and heading toward New York in front of 43,000 eager viewers. By this point, most people were in on the joke, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the nostalgia and excitement that the stunt had generated.
The prank highlighted just how much admiration the Concorde still commands more than two decades after its final commercial flight in 2003. While the aircraft itself remains grounded, the dream of supersonic travel is far from dead. Companies like Boom Supersonic and NASA are actively developing new high-speed aircraft, hoping to make what once seemed impossible a reality once again.
Flight Radar’s April Fool’s stunt was not just a clever trick—it was a testament to Concorde’s lasting legacy. It reignited conversations about the golden age of air travel and reminded the world that the fascination with supersonic speed is far from over. For a few exhilarating hours, people allowed themselves to believe that the Concorde was back, and that alone made it one of the most brilliant pranks in recent history.
