Six passengers have been reported to Italian authorities after allegedly unauthorized access to MSC Divina onboard PA system and broadcasting false emergency announcements that caused concerns among passengers during the ship's voyage to Naples.

According to La Repubblica, the incident occurred during the night of July 29-30 while the cruise ship was sailing from Marmaris, Turkey, to Naples, Italy. Authorities say the six individuals, all from Naples and traveling in two separate cabins, managed to access the ship's communication network and used the intercom system to make fake emergency announcements that were heard across two passenger decks.

One of the unauthorized messages reportedly claimed that "the captain has lost control of the ship," creating confusion and concern among guests and crew members.

Passengers alerted authorities after the ship arrived in Naples. Following a complaint filed by the ship's master, officers from the Naples Coast Guard and the Border Police boarded the vessel and launched an investigation. Investigators traced the unauthorized transmissions to the six suspects, who have since been reported to judicial authorities on allegations of unauthorized access to a computer system and causing a public alarm.

Investigators are now working to determine exactly how the group's members managed to bypass the ship's cybersecurity protections and gain access to the onboard communication system. Because the vessel is registered under the Panamanian flag, the findings of the investigation are also expected to be shared with Panamanian authorities.

Following the incident, Captain Gabriele Russo addressed passengers over the ship's public address system, explaining that the announcements had been made by one or more individuals who transmitted messages completely unrelated to the ship's normal operations.

Here is a video of the captain's announcement:

The captain said the crew immediately contacted MSC's technical department after discovering the unauthorized broadcasts. An initial investigation quickly identified the technical source of the intrusion, while a more detailed inquiry was launched to determine exactly how the breach occurred and identify those responsible.

Captain Russo also apologized to passengers on behalf of his crew and MSC Cruises for the disruption to their rest and any inconvenience caused by the incident, thanking guests for their understanding.