Hackers hijacked public address systems on Tuesday at four airports — three in Canada and one in the US — to broadcast pro-Hamas messages and criticism of President Donald Trump, officials and media reports confirmed.
An “advertisement streaming service” at the Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia “was briefly compromised and unauthorized content was shared,” according to the Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Hack Under Investigation
The RCMP said it is investigating the hack with other agencies and declined to provide further details.
Hackers broadcast messages in a foreign language and music over the PA system at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia, according to an airport spokesperson.
The hackers accessed the public address system by breaching third-party software, after which the airport shifted to an internal system to regain control, the spokesperson said.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is assisting the airport and the RCMP with the investigation.
Pennsylvania Airport Targeted
Hackers similarly took control of the PA system at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post on Wednesday.
In their message, the Hackers at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania attacked Netanyahu and Trump: “F*** Netanyahu. F*** Trump. Free, free Palestine. Free, free Palestine. Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials are investigating the breach, he said.
The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hackers also breached the flight information display screens and public address system on Tuesday evening at Windsor International Airport in Ontario, and displayed “unauthorized images and announcements,” according to airport officials.
The breach was to a “cloud-based software provider” used by the airport, and “our systems returned to normal shortly thereafter,” according to the airport’s statement.
The four locations are smaller, feeder airports. In 2024, the busiest, Kelowna, served just over 2 million passengers, compared to the more than 25 million travelers who passed through Vancouver International Airport – British Columbia’s largest airport.
(With inputs from Reuters)
