London’s Heathrow Airport has been completely shut down following a massive power outage caused by a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, West London. The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, has resulted in the cancellation of over 1,300 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Emergency responders, including 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines, were deployed to contain the fire, which severely damaged both primary and backup power supplies to the airport. Although the London Fire Brigade successfully brought the blaze under control, the resulting power outage has disrupted operations at one of the world’s busiest airports.
In an official statement, Heathrow Airport announced that it would remain closed until 23:59 GMT on March 21 to ensure safety and restore essential services. Passengers have been advised to avoid the airport and to contact their airlines for updates on rescheduled flights.
The outage has triggered a ripple effect on global air travel, with incoming flights diverted to alternative airports, including Gatwick, Dublin, Shannon, and Paris. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, approximately 1,357 flights have been affected.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the event as a “catastrophic fire,” noting its unprecedented scale and the impact on thousands of travelers. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, while emergency services evacuated nearby properties as a precaution.
The closure of Heathrow Airport has also affected local residents, with power outages reported in approximately 16,300 homes in the surrounding areas. The disruptions are expected to last several days as repair efforts continue.
Passengers are urged to stay updated via official channels and remain in contact with their airlines as authorities work to restore normal operations.
