The sound systems of four airports were taken over, broadcasts interrupted: U.S. Secretary of Transportation reacted
Four international airports in the U.S. and Canada experienced system outages in their broadcasting networks due to a cyberattack carried out by Turkish hackers. The attackers seized control of the airports’ public address systems, broadcasting the slogan “Free Palestine” and using insulting statements directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following the incident, the broadcasting infrastructures were temporarily disabled, and flight information systems at some airports experienced disruptions. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy described the incident on social media as “absolutely unacceptable” and stated, “It is understandable that passengers are scared.”
FAA and FBI Launch Investigation
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a comprehensive technical investigation to identify the source of the cyberattack, particularly targeting Harrisburg Airport.
FBI officials have also assessed that the attack “could be an internationally connected cyber operation.”
Cyber Threats Increasing: Airports as New Targets
In recent months, airports in the U.S. and Europe have faced successive cyberattacks.
In June, a notorious cybercrime group infiltrated the network systems of multiple airlines in the U.S. and Canada, while last month, thousands of passengers were affected by the collapse of check-in systems at European airports.
“Free Palestine”-Themed Cyber Message
The Turkish hacker group’s broadcasting of the “Free Palestine / Özgür Filistin” message through the airport sound systems demonstrated that the act carried a political motive.
Authorities noted that hacking the sound systems constitutes a significant cybersecurity breach and that the incident is being investigated in coordination with international cybercrime units.
