Two airports in British Columbia reported that their public address and flight information display systems were compromised by a third party on Tuesday evening. Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport acknowledged the incidents in official statements. Transport Canada confirmed awareness of these hacks, as well as another incident at Windsor International Airport.
Transport Canada stated that it is collaborating with federal security partners, including law enforcement, to ensure the safety and security of airport operations and prevent similar disruptions in the future. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security also acknowledged being informed about the incidents.
Kelowna International Airport issued a news release on Wednesday, indicating that it is conducting an investigation in conjunction with Transport Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Reports from social media users claimed to have witnessed pro-Hamas and anti-Trump messages at the airport located in British Columbia’s Okanagan region.
Phillip Elchitz, the airport’s director of operations and innovation, disclosed to CBC News that a third party had unauthorized access to the flight information display system and the PA system in the terminal building. An inappropriate message related to the situation in Gaza, including profanities and images of individuals from Hamas, was broadcast over the PA system.
Despite a brief disruption, operations at the airport returned to normal on Tuesday night, with only a few delayed flights. Elchitz mentioned that measures are being taken to enhance security and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In a separate incident, Victoria International Airport reported that only its PA system was compromised, with an external user uploading unauthorized audio content that played for a short duration before being promptly halted by the operations team. No operational disruptions or delays were experienced at the airport.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania confirmed that an unauthorized individual accessed its PA system and played a politically-oriented recorded message. The airport assured that there were no threats against airport operations, tenants, airlines, or passengers, and the incident is under investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.
