Heathrow Airport, the UK’s busiest airport, has been forced to close its doors for the entirety of Friday due to a major power outage. This disruption stems from a fire that broke out at a nearby electrical substation responsible for supplying power to the airport.
The incident has triggered significant travel chaos, with the airport issuing a stern warning to passengers, advising them against traveling to the airport “under any circumstances” until it can resume operations. The repercussions of the power outage extend beyond the airport itself, impacting thousands of homes in the surrounding areas, leaving them without electricity. Additionally, around 150 people residing near the substation have been evacuated as a safety precaution.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at the substation in Hayes, west London, late on Thursday night. Social media platforms were abuzz with dramatic footage showcasing towering flames and thick smoke billowing from the substation during the overnight hours. The fire has had a substantial impact on flight schedules, with at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow being affected on Friday, according to flight tracking data. This figure includes approximately 120 aircraft that were already airborne when the airport closure was announced.
As of the latest reports, a part of a transformer within the substation remains ablaze, as confirmed by the London Fire Brigade (LFB). The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A significant response from the fire department has been deployed to combat the blaze, with ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters on the scene. The airport is working diligently to restore power and resume operations as quickly as possible, but significant disruptions are expected to persist in the coming days.