Significant Fire Forces Heathrow Airport Shutdown Due to Power Outage
London Heathrow Airport will remain closed throughout Friday, March 21, after a fire led to a major power outage. Known for being one of the globe’s most bustling airports, Heathrow had to suspend all operations due to the incident. The airport management conveyed that the power loss stemmed from a large fire at a nearby electrical substation, causing an extensive outage across the facility.
Although firefighting teams are tackling the situation, there is still no clear timeline for the restoration of power. “To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we have decided to keep Heathrow closed until 23h59 on March 21, 2025,” a spokesperson informed Fox News. “We foresee significant disruptions in the days ahead, and urge passengers not to travel to the airport until it resumes normal operations,” they further stated. “We will provide further updates as more information becomes available concerning the resumption of activities. We understand this is disappointing for travelers and are working urgently to resolve the issue.”
On a typical day, Heathrow anticipates accommodating around 291,000 passengers across 1,351 flights, as reported by Reuters. Travelers are advised to reach out to their airlines for details on revised flight schedules. Following the announcement of the closure, airlines began communicating the impact on their operations to their customers. British Airways remarked that the shutdown “will undoubtedly have a notable impact on our operations and our customers, and we are swiftly updating them on travel alternatives for the next 24 hours and beyond.” United Airlines told FOX Business that, “In response to the closure, seven United flights have been redirected or sent back to their point of origin, with Friday’s flights to Heathrow canceled. We continue to assist our clients in finding alternative travel solutions,” the spokesperson commented.
The London Fire Brigade reported that about 70 firefighters, along with 10 engines, were dispatched to combat the blaze just before midnight on Thursday at the Nestles Avenue substation in Hayes. “This was a highly visible and critical incident, and our firefighters showed great commitment in difficult conditions to control the fire as quickly as they could,” stated Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, noting that the conflagration was brought under control by 6:30 a.m. No injuries were reported, but the brigade revealed that 29 individuals were evacuated from nearby buildings, and 150 more were cleared from a 200-meter safety perimeter set up as a precaution.