London: A fire at an electrical substation in west London has triggered a widespread power outage, forcing Heathrow Airport to shut down for an entire day. The disruption is expected to impact at least 1,350 flights, according to flight tracking service FlightRadar24, with further delays and cancellations likely due to aircraft being out of position.
In a statement, Heathrow Airport said it had "no choice but to close" for the day to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. Authorities have warned of continued disruption in the coming days and urged travelers to avoid the airport until operations resume.
Several flights have been diverted to alternate airports, while airlines such as United Airlines have canceled multiple services, including flights from the U.S. Some inbound transatlantic flights were forced to turn back mid-journey. Qantas, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic have also faced operational challenges due to the sudden power failure.
The incident was caused by a fire in a transformer at the substation, prompting a large emergency response. London Fire Brigade dispatched ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, which broke out at 10:23 p.m. CET on Thursday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The outage has also affected over 16,300 homes in the surrounding areas, with emergency services receiving nearly 200 calls related to the incident. Fire crews from multiple locations, including Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, and Southall, were deployed to the scene.
Footage shared on social media showed intense flames and thick smoke billowing from the substation. National Grid UK confirmed that the fire had caused severe damage to equipment, stating that efforts were underway to restore power as quickly as possible.
Heathrow Airport has announced that the closure will remain in effect until midnight on Friday, with further updates expected as the situation develops.
