London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, came to a standstill early Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a major power outage. The airport will remain closed until at least 11:59 p.m. local time, creating massive travel disruptions.
The fire, which broke out in western London, quickly impacted flights across the globe. Heathrow urged passengers to avoid traveling to the airport under any circumstances until it reopens.
Flights Turned Back, Diverted to Other Airports
At the time of closure, 120 aircraft were en route to Heathrow, according to Flightradar24. Airlines scrambled to reroute flights to alternative airports, including London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and airports in Ireland and Canada.
Passengers worldwide are feeling the impact. Warren Hu, a New York college student flying to London to visit his girlfriend, was already in the air when his flight was forced to turn back to New York. “I’m a bit surprised,” he said, “but we can find a solution, so I’m trying to stay calm.”
What Caused the Shutdown?
- Fire at a Substation: The blaze at North Hyde substation knocked out power to Heathrow early Friday.
- Ongoing Firefighting Efforts: London’s fire brigade was still battling the flames five hours later.
- Widespread Power Outages: Over 16,000 customers lost power, and 150 people were evacuated from the area.
Heathrow typically handles 1,300 flights per day, making this an unprecedented disruption. The situation remains fluid, and further delays are expected in the coming days.
If you’re traveling soon, check with your airline for the latest updates.