KELOWNA — The airport in Kelowna, B.C., says some flights were delayed after its terminal information screens and public address system were hacked, with social media posts showing pro-Hamas messages on the displays.
The posts show screens at Kelowna International Airport saying “Israel lost the war, Hamas won,” and calling U.S. President Donald Trump a pig.
Transport Canada says similar incidents also occurred around the same time at Windsor International Airport in Ontario and Victoria International Airport in B.C.
Other videos depict slogans being played over the Kelowna airport’s public announcement system, and also at the Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania.
Kelowna International Airport has confirmed the incident on its website, adding that staff successfully removed the unauthorized messaging by a “third party.”
The update posted at 10 p.m. Tuesday says the airport was working to restore both systems, and the incident resulted in some delayed flights.
The airport’s departure information showed three delayed flights the next morning, without saying whether they were related to the hack.
A group calling itself “Siberislam” claimed responsibility for the hacks in the onscreen messages, while social media accounts under that name shared videos of the incidents.
YLW says the cybersecurity incident was limited to a cloud-based third-party software provider. It adds other airport systems are kept separate for security purposes.
“All affected systems were isolated and verified before being restored late [Tuesday] night.”
Transport Canada says it is working closely with federal security partners to ensure there are no other impacts on airport operations and to prevent similar incidents.
Victoria International Airport issued an apology to passengers for any inconvenience caused.
With files from CityNews Staff