A massive fire at an electrical substation near London’s Heathrow Airport has forced the airport to close indefinitely on Friday, 21 March, causing widespread disruption. The blaze, which saw flames and thick smoke visible from miles away, led to a major power outage, affecting one of the world’s busiest airports.
The London Fire Brigade responded with over 70 firefighters, battling the fire that caused a significant breakdown in Heathrow’s operations. As a result, 150 people were evacuated from nearby buildings, and thousands of properties across the area experienced power outages. Though the cause of the fire remains unclear, authorities are working to restore power.
Heathrow officials confirmed that the airport would remain closed until midnight Friday, urging passengers not to travel. Affected flights include 120 inbound flights, with many diverted to alternative airports, including Qantas, which rerouted a Perth to Paris flight, and United Airlines, which redirected several U.S.-bound flights to locations like Shannon, Ireland, and Washington, D.C.
The chaos has sent shockwaves throughout the aviation sector. With 1,351 flights originally scheduled to land or depart on Friday, the ripple effect is being felt globally. British Airways, which had 341 flights planned for Friday, has expressed concerns over the significant impact on its operations and is advising passengers to seek updates on travel options.
Travel experts predict a massive disruption in global travel, with airlines scrambling to reconfigure their schedules and manage the resulting backlog of passengers. Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst with Atmosphere Research Group, emphasized the challenges airlines will face in re-positioning planes and crews.
The fire has added to a series of operational setbacks for Heathrow, which previously faced outages such as an automated gate failure and air traffic system malfunctions in 2023. As of now, there is no clear timeline for when power will be fully restored, and Heathrow officials warn that the disruption could continue for several days.
On the ground, local communities are also experiencing power issues, and emergency responders have been working to ensure the safety of residents, with a 200-meter cordon in place around the affected area.
The event underscores Heathrow’s crucial role as a global hub and highlights how disruptions at key infrastructure points can ripple through global airline networks.
