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Heathrow Airport to Remain Closed Following Major Electrical Fire
London: Heathrow Airport in the UK announced that it will be closed for the entirety of Friday due to a significant fire at a nearby electrical substation, which has caused widespread power outages and disrupted flight schedules globally.
The London Fire Brigade reported that approximately 70 firefighters were deployed to combat the fire in west London, which resulted in a massive power failure at Heathrow, recognized as Europe’s busiest airport and the fifth-busiest in the world.
Spectacular flames and thick smoke were visible from a distance. In response, about 150 individuals were evacuated from adjacent structures, with thousands of properties losing power.
Currently, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
"Heathrow will remain closed until 11:59 PM on March 21 to ensure the safety of our passengers and staff," the airport stated in a message on X (formerly Twitter), urging travelers to avoid coming to the airport.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 indicated that over 120 inbound flights to Heathrow are being diverted to alternate airports. In total, at least 1,351 flights scheduled to or from Heathrow are expected to be impacted on Friday, not counting those that may be canceled or delayed because aircraft are not in position.
British Airways had planned for 341 flights to arrive at Heathrow on Friday.
"Heathrow is a crucial hub for global air travel," noted Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for FlightRadar24. "This incident will cause widespread operational disturbances for airlines around the world."
The repercussions were immediate, with Qantas diverting a flight from Perth to Paris and United Airlines rerouting flights from New York to Shannon, Ireland, and from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., instead of London. Some U.S. flights even turned back mid-air.
A Chaotic Few Days Ahead
Travel analysts predict that the disruption will ripple out well beyond Heathrow.
Airlines rely heavily on tightly coordinated schedules that position both aircraft and crews in specific locations at predetermined times. Multiple carriers will now need to rapidly adjust their routes and schedules to reposition planes and crews.
"The lingering question is how airlines will manage the backlog of affected passengers," remarked travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt from Atmosphere Research Group. "These next few days will be particularly chaotic."
A representative from Heathrow Airport informed Reuters that there is currently no estimate for when power will be restored and that considerable disruption is anticipated in the days to come.
On the ground in London, numerous homes and businesses were also left without electricity. The fire brigade confirmed that they have assisted 29 individuals to safety from surrounding properties and established a 200-meter cordon around the area, leading to the evacuation of around 150 people.
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