On October 15, 2025, coordinated cyberattacks impacted five airports across the United States and Canada. The incidents involved unauthorized access to airport public address systems and display screens, which were used to broadcast pro-Hamas messages and anti-Trump statements. A group identifying itself as “Siberislam” has claimed responsibility for the breaches, which exposed vulnerabilities in cloud-based airport systems.
Story Highlights:
- Five airports in the U.S. and Canada experienced cyberattacks on October 15, 2025.
- Hackers broadcast pro-Hamas and anti-Trump messages through airport PA systems and display screens.
- The group “Siberislam” claimed responsibility for the infrastructure breach.
- The attacks highlighted vulnerabilities in cloud-based airport systems.
Coordinated Infrastructure Attack Targets Multiple Airports
On Tuesday evening, October 15, 2025, systems at Kelowna International Airport, Victoria International Airport, and Windsor International Airport in Canada, along with Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, were infiltrated. The perpetrators gained unauthorized access to cloud-based public address systems and flight information displays, broadcasting messages such as “Israel lost the war, Hamas won” and criticisms directed at President Trump. Airport staff at Kelowna reported restoring audio systems within 20 seconds, while display screens took several minutes to clear.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented on the attacks, stating they were “absolutely unacceptable” and “understandably scared travelers.” The Federal Aviation Administration is collaborating with affected airports to investigate the breaches, and Transport Canada is coordinating with federal security partners and law enforcement. Passengers at Harrisburg reported hearing “Free Palestine” chants in terminals, with one traveler noting, “Nobody informed us what was going on… everyone was just really confused.” The group “Siberislam” claimed responsibility for the incidents via onscreen messages and social media.
On Tuesday, hackers appeared to have hijacked the public address systems at four airports across North America. pic.twitter.com/SEBes4k8AK
— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) October 16, 2025
Pattern of Escalating Aviation Cybersecurity Threats
These attacks are part of a series of incidents targeting the aviation sector in 2025. In June, the FBI issued a warning regarding “Scattered Spider” breaching airline computer networks in the United States and Canada. July saw disruptions at European airports due to attacks on check-in systems, followed by September incidents that disabled passenger systems at London Heathrow and other European facilities. Pro-Palestinian hacktivist groups have conducted numerous cyberattacks since October 2023, targeting airports, financial institutions, and government networks across North America and Europe.
The coordination observed across multiple airports in two countries suggests advanced planning and execution capabilities among these groups. Hacktivist collectives such as Dark Storm Team and OpIsrael campaign participants have previously targeted US airports and NATO servers in coordinated digital offensives. The simultaneous breach of geographically diverse facilities indicates either the exploitation of a common third-party vendor vulnerability or advanced coordination among individuals seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure.
Critical Vulnerabilities Exposed in Airport Security Systems
The breaches exploited cloud-based external systems utilized by airports globally for public address functionality, revealing systemic weaknesses in aviation infrastructure security. Phillip Elchitz, Director of Operations at Kelowna International Airport, confirmed that access was gained through a third-party cloud software provider, with other airport systems remaining separate for security purposes. This method of attack represents an escalation from previous incidents, which typically focused on data theft rather than public messaging designed to create alarm among travelers.
The operational impact of the incidents was limited, with some flight delays reported at Kelowna but no cancellations across the affected facilities. However, the psychological impact on passengers was noted, contributing to confusion and concern in transportation environments. The attacks illustrate how cyberattacks can be leveraged to disseminate messages and exploit vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure relied upon by the public for travel.
Watch the report: Hackers hijack airport info systems | CTV News Vancouver at Six for Oct. 15, 2025
Sources:
Hackers hijack airport loudspeakers in US, Canada, play pro-Hamas messages
Pro-Hamas hackers hijack airport loudspeakers across North America
Canadian airport screens, PA systems hacked with pro-Hamas, anti-Trump messages
Flights delayed after B.C. airport hacked with pro-Hamas messages
