Reports from two British Columbia airports indicate that on Tuesday evening, their public address and flight information display systems were compromised by an external party. Both Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport acknowledged the incidents in official statements. Transport Canada confirmed its awareness of these breaches, as well as a similar incident at Windsor International Airport.
Transport Canada released a statement affirming its collaboration with federal security entities, including law enforcement, to ensure the safety and security of airport operations and prevent future disruptions. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security also acknowledged being informed of the occurrences.
In a news release issued by Kelowna International Airport on Wednesday, it was disclosed that investigations into the incident are ongoing in partnership with Transport Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Allegedly, some social media users reported encountering pro-Hamas and anti-Trump messages at the airport in British Columbia’s Okanagan region.
Phillip Elchitz, the airport’s director of operations and innovation, informed CBC News that an unauthorized third party gained access to both the flight information display system and the PA system in the terminal building. He mentioned that a message relating to the Gaza situation, including profanities, was broadcast over the PA system, referencing President Trump, the prime minister of Israel, and individuals affiliated with Hamas.
Although a brief excerpt of the PA announcement at Kelowna airport on Tuesday night was reviewed by CBC News, it did not directly mention Trump or Hamas, but rather included expressions like “We pledge allegiance to Jerusalem. I swear to God.” Additionally, an image captured at Kelowna International Airport displayed a message on a screen insulting Trump and declaring victory for Hamas.
Elchitz confirmed that the PA system issue was rectified within 20 seconds, while it took a few minutes to remove the unauthorized images from the displays. Although a few flights were temporarily delayed, operations returned to normal on Tuesday night, with expectations for a regular schedule on Wednesday.
Regarding Victoria International Airport, a spokesperson mentioned that only the PA system was compromised. They clarified that the loudspeakers are connected to a cloud-based external system, commonly used by various airports globally. An external party uploaded an unauthorized audio file, which played for a short period before being promptly halted by the airport’s operations team.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania reported a similar incident where an unauthorized user accessed their PA system and played a politically themed recorded message. Despite the nature of the message, no threats were made against the airport, airlines, or passengers. The incident is under investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.