Airport Hacking: Pro-Hamas Messages Disrupt Canadian Facilities

A brazen cyberattack disrupted operations at three Canadian airports and one in the U.S. on Tuesday, with hackers commandeering public address (PA) systems and digital screens to broadcast pro-Hamas propaganda laced with anti-Trump vitriol.

The incidents, which triggered flight delays and passenger unease, were pinned on a group calling itself "Mutariff Siberislam," linked to prior jihadi-style defacements. The breaches unfolded in the evening across British Columbia's Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and Victoria International Airport (YYJ), plus Ontario's Windsor International Airport (YQG). At Kelowna, between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, flight information displays flashed messages like "Hacked by Mutariff Siberislam," "Israel lost the war, Hamas won the war honourably," and "You are a pig Donald Trump," alongside Arabic chants blaring from the PA system.

Similar audio and visuals hit Victoria and Windsor, where an "unauthorized/hacking incident" played recorded pro-Hamas rants criticizing President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Across the border, Pennsylvania's Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) reported a parallel intrusion: An "unauthorized user" hijacked its PA to air expletive-filled recordings praising Hamas and slamming U.S. and Israeli leadership, per airport spokesperson Scott Miller.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it "absolutely unacceptable," confirming FAA involvement, while the breaches caused brief chaos, Kelowna flights delayed up to 45 minutes as systems rebooted.

Officials moved swiftly: Affected systems were isolated within minutes, with no breach of operational or passenger data, thanks to segregated networks.

Transport Canada, in tandem with the RCMP and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, conducted a joint risk assessment deeming the messages no direct threat to travelers.

The hacks traced to a "cloud-based third-party software provider," prompting ongoing probes into the root cause.

The "Mutariff Siberislam" moniker, translating loosely to "Changing Cyber Islam," directs to Telegram and X accounts (@SiberIslam) self-described as "the child of Islam," which retweeted confirmation of the stunt. It's tied to earlier pro-Hamas cyber-graffiti abroad, including U.S. targets, amid a wave of digital "activism" post-October 7, 2023, when similar hacks hit European check-in systems last month.

Reaction poured in: B.C. Premier David Eby urged patience, while social media users shared shocked clips, dubbing it a "security joke" despite liquid bans.

As the Trump-mediated Gaza truce holds tenuously, with phase two disarming talks looming, this incident highlights cyber's role in proxy battles, current media users reported hearing the chants, amplifying fears of escalation beyond the battlefield.