- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a shocking breach of airport security systems, three Canadian airports and one in the United States were hacked on Tuesday (October 16), displaying pro-Hamas and anti-Israel messages on public screens. The cyberattack also featured expletive-laden remarks against US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raising fresh concerns about digital vulnerabilities in North American aviation infrastructure.
The affected airports included Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport in British Columbia, Windsor International Airport in Ontario, and Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, USA. According to reports, hackers took control of flight information display systems and broadcasted messages such as “Israel lost the war, Hamas won the war honorably” and “Free Palestine.”
Foreign language Messages Displayed
A spokesperson for the Victoria International Airport confirmed to Reuters that the hackers infiltrated third-party cloud software used by the airport’s display system. “The messages were shown in a foreign language. We immediately switched to our internal system to regain control,” the spokesperson said.
Similarly, the Windsor International Airport stated that its systems were compromised through an external provider. “Our systems returned to normal shortly thereafter,” the airport noted in an official release, adding that no flight operations were affected.
‘Cyber Islam’ Claims Responsibility
Footage circulating on social media showed flight boards flashing the phrase “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here.” At Harrisburg International Airport, an automated female voice could be heard over the loudspeakers shouting “Free Palestine” and using offensive language toward Trump and Netanyahu.
RCMP, FAA launch Probe
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), supported by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, has begun an investigation into the Canadian incidents. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Harrisburg airport officials are jointly probing the Pennsylvania breach.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and understandably scared travelers,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X, calling for stronger cybersecurity measures at regional airports.
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The incident follows a string of similar cyber intrusions targeting major transport hubs worldwide. Just last month, airports in London and Brussels experienced temporary disruptions after a coordinated digital assault.
While authorities have not confirmed any direct link to Hamas, the latest episode underscores the increasing intersection of cyber warfare, political messaging, and global conflict narratives.