Heathrow Halts Operations: Power Failure and Substation Fire Force Closure

 

London's busiest airport faced an unprecedented shutdown on Friday as a fire at a nearby electricity substation led to widespread power outages. Heathrow, the crown jewel of London's six airports and a transit hub for over 84 million annual passengers, announced that it will remain closed for the day until 23:59 on March 21, 2025.

A statement from the airport read, “Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025.” The statement also warned of significant disruptions over the coming days and advised passengers not to head to the airport until further notice.

The London Fire Brigade confirmed that a transformer in a substation in Hayes, north of Heathrow, caught fire, leading to the evacuation of 150 people. “This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” said Fire Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne. The blaze has not only disrupted air travel but also caused power outages for numerous homes and businesses in the area.

Heathrow, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021 after transitioning from an RAF airfield during World War II to a commercial airport, now faces an uncertain recovery time as authorities work to restore power and resume operations. Stay tuned as we follow this developing story and the impact of this major disruption on London’s travel network.