Hackers infiltrate airport public address systems in the United States and Canada, broadcasting political recordings against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The incidents occur within 24 hours across Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania and at least three Canadian airports, prompting investigations by national aviation and cybersecurity agencies.
Officials confirm that the coordinated attacks target non-critical systems and do not affect flight operations, safety, or air traffic control. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Canada’s Transport Ministry are investigating how the perpetrators accessed cloud-based software that manages airport loudspeaker networks.
Hackers Target Public Announcement Systems
At Harrisburg International Airport, travelers report a ten-minute broadcast of a pre-recorded message calling for “Free Palestine” and using profane language toward Netanyahu and Trump. Airport technicians shut down the feed after identifying unauthorized access to the loudspeaker system. The incident temporarily delayed a Delta Air Lines flight that was boarding at the time while security teams verified there was no physical threat to passengers.
“This was a political message only, not a threat,” airport officials state in a release cited by local outlet WGAL. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirms that the FAA is assisting Harrisburg authorities in tracing the intrusion source and reviewing system safeguards. The airport resumes normal operations shortly after the broadcast ends.
Similar disruptions occur at airports in Windsor, Kelowna, and Victoria in Canada, where local authorities report comparable loudspeaker takeovers and unauthorized audio transmissions. Transport Canada confirms that no operational systems are compromised and that airport safety remains unaffected. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and national cybersecurity teams have joined the investigation.
Authorities Link Attacks to Cloud-Based Software
Preliminary findings suggest that the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in a third-party cloud communication service used to manage airport public address networks. According to Transport Canada, “Critical safety and security systems were not affected. The breach involved external software providing audio messaging capabilities.”
In Harrisburg, witnesses describe hearing repeated political slogans and anti-government statements before the announcement system was taken offline. One recording includes the phrase “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here,” which appears in similar intrusions reported at the Canadian facilities. Authorities have not confirmed the group’s identity or affiliation.
Media report from Reuters indicates that hackers praised Hamas and insulted both Netanyahu and Trump during the unauthorized broadcasts. The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that no passenger information or airport operational data was breached, emphasizing that the incident remained confined to the audio system infrastructure.
Investigations Underway Across Two Countries
Canadian federal police and cybersecurity experts are collaborating with affected airports to determine the attack vector and prevent recurrence. “We are aware of the incident and are working closely with partners to identify the source and scope,” an RCMP spokesperson says in a statement released to local media.
In Pennsylvania, Harrisburg International Airport’s IT division has temporarily isolated its public address software pending a system audit. Airport management reports that routine operations resumed within the hour and that flight schedules remained on time after the event.
The FAA and Transport Canada have issued advisories to other airports using similar audio control systems, urging immediate reviews of network permissions and access protocols. Both agencies are expected to release preliminary findings within days.
