Airport Incident Involving Unauthorized PA System Use

Authorities conducted a search of a Delta Air Lines aircraft before it departed after a hacker commandeered the public address system at Harrisburg International Airport, broadcasting a profane political message for around ten minutes on Tuesday night.

Scott Miller, a spokesperson for the airport, explained that the unauthorized announcement contained pro-Palestinian sentiments alongside vulgar insults directed at former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was noted that the attack wasn’t deemed a direct threat. “I think that’s the key point,” Miller remarked, adding that the IT department quickly identified and eliminated the issue before notifying local police, who are now investigating.

Despite the disruption, normal operations at the airport remained unaffected. However, one Delta flight was delayed for approximately 35 to 40 minutes out of caution. That flight later took off safely and reached its intended destination without any incidents.

Miller reassured the public that there were no ongoing safety issues for travelers. He mentioned that staff had figured out how the breach occurred, yet specifics weren’t disclosed. “The only disruption was just a few minutes of loud political messages,” he said.

Social media reports indicated that the hacker’s announcement included phrases like “Liberate Palestine” and explicit language aimed at Netanyahu and Trump. The hacker even allegedly identified himself over the PA system, stating, “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam was here.”

In a statement released Tuesday night, Harrisburg International Airport confirmed that an unauthorized user accessed the PA system to broadcast a pre-recorded message. The messages failed to threaten the airline, passengers, or airport staff, and the investigation by the airport police is ongoing.