Hackers breach airport systems in U.S. and Canada, broadcast ‘Free Palestine’ message
Airports in the United States and Canada were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack on Tuesday (14 Oct), where hackers hijacked public address and flight information systems to broadcast “Free Palestine” messages and remarks critical of world leaders. Officials said the disruptions were brief, and investigations are underway in both countries.
Airports across the United States and Canada faced a coordinated cyberattack on Tuesday (14 Oct), when hackers took control of public address and flight information systems to air political messages.
Four Airports Targeted
Officials said the affected sites included Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, Windsor International Airport in Ontario, and Kelowna and Victoria International Airports in British Columbia.
Videos shared online appeared to capture the incident at Harrisburg, where a woman’s voice was heard saying “Free Palestine” and making derogatory remarks about U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The broadcast also included the phrase, “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here.”
Authorities Launch Investigation
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the breach as “unacceptable” and confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration was working with the airport to investigate.
Transport Canada said it was coordinating with law enforcement agencies to assess the breach but added that there were “no impacts on flight safety or airport security.”
Airport officials said the unauthorized messages were removed within minutes, and initial findings suggest the hackers gained access through a third-party software vendor.
Part of a Wider Cyber Threat
While service disruptions were brief, the incident underscores growing cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector.
Similar cyberattacks have hit airports and airlines in Europe and Asia in recent months, including disruptions at Heathrow Airport in London and Japan Airlines late last year.
