One thing that might help determine what is happening in multiplayer, would be for the Local Player list to also display the Plane ICAO.
Indicating if the plane is one the Player has, does not have (Red), or cannot be identified ( ???)
Ideally, rather than stop flying, a better place to display this would be a Drop down Tool (Like the VFR map)
Maybe some brilliant 3PD might take a crack to develop such a menu system ?