(NewsNation) — An unauthorized user identifying as “Turkish Hacker Cyber Islam” breached the Harrisburg International Airport’s public address system and broadcast a pre-recorded pro-Hamas message denouncing U.S. and Israeli leaders.
The message, which repeatedly called to “free Palestine,” has prompted an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration to determine how hackers gained airport system access.
While officials said there was no ongoing threat, security was heightened, and one plane at Harrisburg was searched as a precaution before departing safely.
Canadian airport PA systems hijacked
Similar incidents were reported at three Canadian airports, which Canada’s Transportation Air Authority is investigating.
Hackers also briefly took control of flight information screens and the PA system at Kelowna International Airport. The screens displayed pro-Hamas slogans, including “Israel lost the war, Hamas won.”
Officials stated that operations have since returned to normal, and no other systems were compromised.
Who is responsible for the attacks?
Experts warn that the incidents expose vulnerabilities in airport communication networks.
“This should be a wake-up call more than a panic situation,” said John Sancentio, president of Information Network Associates. “I don’t believe that there’s any reason for people to be overly alarmed at this. This was a very unsophisticated type of cyberattack or penetration attack on the network systems.”
Authorities have not confirmed who is responsible, though “Turkish Hacker Cyber Islam” was named in the broadcast. No group has officially claimed responsibility.