Reports confirm that two airports in British Columbia experienced a breach in their public address and flight information display systems by an external party on Tuesday evening. Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport acknowledged the incidents in official statements. Transport Canada also acknowledged the hacks, including a similar incident at Windsor International Airport.
Transport Canada, in collaboration with law enforcement and other security partners, is actively addressing the situation to ensure the safety and security of airport operations and prevent future disruptions. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is also monitoring the incidents.
Kelowna International Airport released a statement on Wednesday, disclosing that they are investigating the breach alongside Transport Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. The breach included unauthorized messages related to Hamas and anti-Trump sentiments displayed on the airport’s systems.
Phillip Elchitz, the director of operations and innovation at the airport, confirmed that a third party gained access to the flight information display system and PA system, broadcasting profane messages related to the Gaza situation and individuals from Hamas.
Although a brief excerpt of the PA announcement translated to “We pledge allegiance to Jerusalem. I swear to God,” it did not specifically mention Trump or Hamas. An image captured at Kelowna International Airport showed a message criticizing Trump and supporting Hamas.
Elchitz mentioned that the PA system was rectified within 20 seconds, while it took a few minutes to remove the unauthorized images from the displays. Some flights faced delays, but operations resumed normally that night with expectations of full operations the next day.
Victoria International Airport reported that only its PA system was compromised, with an external party uploading unauthorized audio content briefly playing on loudspeakers. The operations team promptly stopped the broadcast, ensuring no disruptions occurred.
Similarly, Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania confirmed an unauthorized user accessed its PA system to play a political message. Authorities are investigating the incident, emphasizing that there were no threats made against the airport, airlines, or passengers.
