Flights at London’s Heathrow Airport faced significant disruptions on Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, affecting travelers worldwide.
The incident occurred late Thursday night, approximately two miles from the airport, leading to a power outage that forced officials to close Heathrow until 11:59 p.m. on Friday. To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, the airport ceased all operations during this time. The London Fire Brigade responded promptly with ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to manage the situation. Although the fire has been contained, firefighters remained on-site throughout Friday for safety measures.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the fire as “catastrophic,” noting that it not only affected the electrical substation but also damaged a backup generator supplying power to the airport. The National Grid reported that while power had been restored to many homes in the area, about 4,900 customers still awaited electricity.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and authorities have currently ruled out foul play. However, due to the fire’s significant impact on vital national infrastructure, the Metropolitan Police have included counterterrorism detectives in the investigation.
With about 200,000 travelers expected to transit through Heathrow on Friday alone, the airport advised passengers to refrain from arriving and to reach out to their airlines for flight rebooking. All flights were grounded, affecting numerous long-haul journeys from North America and Asia, resulting in many aircraft being diverted to other airports across the UK and Europe. Passengers and cargo, totaling approximately 4,000 tons, have been stranded due to this unexpected situation.
Even if Heathrow reopens on Saturday, significant delays are anticipated as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crews and accommodate passengers whose flights were canceled. Experts believe it could take between two to four days to clear the backlog. This incident underscores the vulnerability of key infrastructure and highlights the need for robust measures to prevent such disruptions in the future.
Heathrow Airport stands as Europe’s busiest airport, having served 83.6 million passengers last year, making its closure have wider implications for both the UK and international travelers. While London has five other smaller airports, none match the scale of Heathrow, which is crucial for connecting flights to numerous destinations worldwide.
