- Heathrow Airport has closed due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, causing a major power outage.
- More than 16,300 homes in the surrounding areas are without power, and firefighters continue to battle the blaze.
Heathrow Airport has closed after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a major power outage overnight on March 20. The airport will stay closed all day and will not reopen until midnight on March 21. More than 1,350 flights are affected, and the closure is disrupting travel worldwide.
Heathrow posted on X, “A fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport caused a significant power outage. To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we will remain closed until 11:59 p.m. on March 21.”
“Passengers should not travel to the airport and should contact their airline for more information. We apologise for the inconvenience.” The fire has also left more than 16,300 homes in Hayes and Hounslow without power.
The fire broke out at the substation in Hayes, London. Firefighters are still working to put it out. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines are at the scene. The fire has caused severe damage, and power may not be restored for several hours.
Situation updates stated Heathrow has closed its car parks to stop passengers from reaching the terminals. Several roads around the airport are also blocked off. Traffic lights are not working, but it is unclear if this is due to the power outage.
Before this, Ed Miliband, a cabinet minister, said the closure was causing “terrible disruption” for thousands of passengers. He added that restoring power will take time.
As of 7:38 a.m., staff reported that roads leading to Heathrow have been blocked since early this morning to prevent passengers from reaching the terminals. Some travellers who did not know about the closure were left stranded.
Miliband said as of 7:26 a.m. that it was too early to know the cause of the fire as authorities were working to put it out and restore power as quickly as possible.
Six flights from Toronto, Atlanta, and Boston have been diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland. Other flights have been sent to nearby airports, including Gatwick.
Authorities in charge of the national grid confirmed that the fire had damaged critical equipment at the substation. Firefighters continue to fight the blaze, and power restoration efforts are ongoing.
The power outage at Heathrow is causing significant delays. Passengers should not travel to the airport today and are advised to contact their airlines for updates. The fire and power outage may cause disruptions for the next few days.