Hackers seized control of public address systems at four airports in Canada and the United States on Tuesday, transmitting messages in support of Hamas while criticizing US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The synchronized cyber breach briefly disrupted operations at airports in British Columbia, Ontario, and Pennsylvania.
The initial incident was reported at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia, where hackers breached an “advertisement streaming service” connected to the airport’s public address network. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the breach, stating that unauthorized content was shared before swiftly restoring control.
At Victoria International Airport, also in British Columbia, hackers utilized vulnerabilities in third-party software to play messages and music in a foreign language over the PA system. Following the breach detection, the airport shifted to its internal system to regain control, according to a spokesperson.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is collaborating with the RCMP and airport authorities to identify the cyberattack source and enhance security measures to prevent future breaches.
In the United States, Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania faced similar disruptions as hackers infiltrated the PA system to deliver politically charged messages. Although the specific content was not disclosed, social media videos showed pro-Hamas statements and criticism of Trump’s administration.
Additionally, Windsor International Airport in Ontario experienced a cyber intrusion where hackers accessed the public address system and flight information display screens. Unauthorized images and announcements were broadcast before the system was rectified, with the breach traced back to a cloud-based software provider.
All four affected airports, including Kelowna, Victoria, Windsor, and Harrisburg, are regional feeder airports rather than major international hubs. Despite the breaches, there was no indication of broader data breaches or compromises to critical infrastructure systems at the airports.