In an unexpected turn of events, two airports in British Columbia, Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport, found themselves victims of a cyber attack on Tuesday evening. The breach, which also affected Windsor International Airport, was confirmed by the respective airports and Transport Canada. Authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of airport operations and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is closely monitoring the situation. Kelowna International Airport, in a recent news release, disclosed that they are collaborating with Transport Canada and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to investigate the breach. Reports from social media users indicated the presence of pro-Hamas and anti-Trump messages in the airport.
Phillip Elchitz, the director of operations and innovation at Kelowna International Airport, revealed that an external party gained unauthorized access to the flight information display system and PA system, broadcasting a message related to the situation in Gaza. Although the PA system was swiftly rectified, it took a few minutes to remove the unauthorized images from the displays.
Despite a brief delay in a few flights, operations at the airport returned to normal that evening, ensuring a full day of operations the following day. Airport officials are actively working with service providers to identify the root cause of the breach and enhance security measures to prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, Victoria International Airport reported that only their PA system was compromised, with an unauthorized audio file being played for a short duration. The quick response from the operations team prevented any disruptions or cancellations. Similarly, Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania experienced a similar incident with an unauthorized political message being played on their PA system, prompting an investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.