Unauthorised recordings praising Hamas and containing expletives directed at US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were broadcast over public address systems at four North American airports, disrupting operations and prompting investigations into the apparent hacks.
The incidents took place on Tuesday at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, US, as well as at three Canadian airports: Kelowna and Victoria International n British Columbia, and Windsor International in Ontario.
US transportation secretary Sean Duffy described the hacking as “unacceptable.”
“This is absolutely unacceptable and understandably scared travellers. The FAA is working with Harrisburg Airport to get to the bottom of this hack,” Duffy wrote on X.
The incidents occurred as a Trump-facilitated ceasefire remained in effect between Israel and Hamas, who had been at war since October 2023 following attacks by Hamas inside Israel. Under the Trump-proposed Gaza peace plan, the two sides also exchanged hostages and prisoners.
Airports respond
Harrisburg International Airport confirmed that “an unauthorised user gained access to the PA system and played an unauthorised recorded message. It was political in nature and did not contain any threats against the airport, our tenants, airlines, or passengers. The PA system was shut off, and the incident is under investigation by police,” spokesperson Scott Miller told CNN affiliate WGAL.
Miller added, “During the incident, one flight was in the process of boarding. Out of an abundance of caution, the aircraft was searched. No security issues were found, and the flight departed safely.”
Similar recordings were played at Kelowna, Victoria, and Windsor airports. At Windsor, the terminal was nearly empty, as no flights were immediately arriving or departing, according to director Mark Galvin.
“Our team responded quickly, removed the recordings, and shut off the PA announcement. We returned to normal shortly thereafter and have been operating without incident,” Galvin said.
Transport Canada, which regulates airports in the country, stated it is “working closely with federal security partners, including law enforcement, to ensure there were no impacts on the safety and security of operations, and to mitigate disruption from similar incidents in the future.”
The incidents took place on Tuesday at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, US, as well as at three Canadian airports: Kelowna and Victoria International n British Columbia, and Windsor International in Ontario.
US transportation secretary Sean Duffy described the hacking as “unacceptable.”
“This is absolutely unacceptable and understandably scared travellers. The FAA is working with Harrisburg Airport to get to the bottom of this hack,” Duffy wrote on X.
This is absolutely unacceptable and understandably scared travelers.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) October 16, 2025
The @FAANews and I are coordinating with @FlyHIA to help get to the bottom of this hack. https://t.co/3rOKbanfVw
The incidents occurred as a Trump-facilitated ceasefire remained in effect between Israel and Hamas, who had been at war since October 2023 following attacks by Hamas inside Israel. Under the Trump-proposed Gaza peace plan, the two sides also exchanged hostages and prisoners.
Airports respond
Harrisburg International Airport confirmed that “an unauthorised user gained access to the PA system and played an unauthorised recorded message. It was political in nature and did not contain any threats against the airport, our tenants, airlines, or passengers. The PA system was shut off, and the incident is under investigation by police,” spokesperson Scott Miller told CNN affiliate WGAL.
Miller added, “During the incident, one flight was in the process of boarding. Out of an abundance of caution, the aircraft was searched. No security issues were found, and the flight departed safely.”
Similar recordings were played at Kelowna, Victoria, and Windsor airports. At Windsor, the terminal was nearly empty, as no flights were immediately arriving or departing, according to director Mark Galvin.
“Our team responded quickly, removed the recordings, and shut off the PA announcement. We returned to normal shortly thereafter and have been operating without incident,” Galvin said.
Transport Canada, which regulates airports in the country, stated it is “working closely with federal security partners, including law enforcement, to ensure there were no impacts on the safety and security of operations, and to mitigate disruption from similar incidents in the future.”
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