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US & Canada Airports Hacked: Pro-Hamas Messages Flash on Screens | Watch

Cyberattack on Kelowna, Victoria, Windsor, and Harrisburg International Airports traced to a ‘cloud-based software provider,’ broadcasting political messages and causing concern among travellers.


A coordinated cyberattack reportedly targeted three Canadian airports and one in the United States on Tuesday, resulting in the display of unauthorized pro-Hamas messages and announcements critical of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The affected airports were:

  • Kelowna International Airport (British Columbia, Canada)
  • Victoria International Airport (British Columbia, Canada)
  • Windsor International Airport (Ontario, Canada)
  • Harrisburg International Airport (Pennsylvania, USA)

All four locations are notably smaller, regional feeder airports.

Hackers Use Flight Information Screens and PA Systems

The hackers successfully breached both the flight information display screens and the public address (PA) systems at the various airports, causing concern and confusion among travelers. Visuals of the disruptive messages and audio announcements quickly went viral across social media platforms like X.

Details of the Messages:

  • At Kelowna International Airport: Pro-Hamas messages appeared on the flight information display screens, including one that read, “Israel lost the war, Hamas won the war honorably.”
  • At Harrisburg International Airport: A woman’s voice was broadcast over the loudspeaker, chanting “Free Palestine” and using expletives while referencing President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The voice also claimed, “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here.”

A spokesperson for the Victoria International Airport confirmed that the hackers displayed messages in a foreign language and accessed the system by targeting third-party software. Victoria Airport staff quickly moved to an internal system to regain control. Similarly, Windsor International Airport stated the breach was to a “cloud-based software provider” used by the airport, and their systems were quickly returned to normal.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X, calling the incident “absolutely unacceptable and understandably scared travelers.”

Official Investigations Underway

Authorities in both countries are treating the incidents seriously:

  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with other agencies and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, is investigating the cyberattacks at the three Canadian airports.
  • The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport officials are investigating the breach at Harrisburg International Airport.

This incident is the latest in a series of cyberattacks targeting the air travel industry. Just last month, a similar cyberattack caused travel disruptions at several European airports, including London’s Heathrow Airport, which affected check-in systems.

Disha Rojhe

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