Operations at Heathrow Airport were halted due to a fire in a nearby substation, affecting potentially 290,000 passengers and causing chaos among various airlines. The power outage, classified as "catastrophic," is expected to have significant repercussions worldwide for several days.
Heathrow Airport in Chaos After Fire Causes Major Power Outage
Heathrow Airport in Chaos After Fire Causes Major Power Outage
A fire at a nearby electrical substation has led to the closure of Heathrow Airport, creating widespread disruption in global travel as thousands of travelers face flight cancellations and delays.
The article text:
Operations at Heathrow Airport ground to a halt following a catastrophic fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, London, early on Friday. The blaze led to a massive power outage that forced the airport to close, impacting one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. Thousands of passengers found themselves stranded, with an estimated 290,000 set to be affected by the closure, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
As the situation developed, Britain’s energy secretary, Ed Miliband, reported that there was no indication of foul play in the fire’s cause; however, investigations are ongoing. The fire, which broke out late Thursday, led to extensive damage at the North Hyde substation, affecting not only the airport but also leaving thousands of local residents without power.
The closure of Heathrow has already disrupted over 1,351 flights scheduled in and out of the airport. Airlines worldwide scrambled to manage the fallout, resulting in multiple cancellations and diversions, as many ongoing flights were already en route to Heathrow when the closure was announced. Airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, urged passengers not to travel to the airport, recommending they check flight statuses online.
With ongoing rerouting of flights, airports across Europe, including Gatwick and Schiphol, began receiving diverted planes from Heathrow. Passengers who had already arrived in transit faced significant challenges, with many left exploring other travel options or seeking accommodations to wait for further arrangements.
Traveling through Heathrow averages about 220,000 passengers daily, making the impact of the closure felt not only in London but globally. Business sectors that rely on air freight are also bracing for significant delays in goods and shipments.
As emergency services continue to manage the fire, travelers are urged to stay updated on their flight statuses and avoid the airport until further notice, with expected disruptions to persist for several days following the incident.
Operations at Heathrow Airport ground to a halt following a catastrophic fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, London, early on Friday. The blaze led to a massive power outage that forced the airport to close, impacting one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. Thousands of passengers found themselves stranded, with an estimated 290,000 set to be affected by the closure, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
As the situation developed, Britain’s energy secretary, Ed Miliband, reported that there was no indication of foul play in the fire’s cause; however, investigations are ongoing. The fire, which broke out late Thursday, led to extensive damage at the North Hyde substation, affecting not only the airport but also leaving thousands of local residents without power.
The closure of Heathrow has already disrupted over 1,351 flights scheduled in and out of the airport. Airlines worldwide scrambled to manage the fallout, resulting in multiple cancellations and diversions, as many ongoing flights were already en route to Heathrow when the closure was announced. Airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, urged passengers not to travel to the airport, recommending they check flight statuses online.
With ongoing rerouting of flights, airports across Europe, including Gatwick and Schiphol, began receiving diverted planes from Heathrow. Passengers who had already arrived in transit faced significant challenges, with many left exploring other travel options or seeking accommodations to wait for further arrangements.
Traveling through Heathrow averages about 220,000 passengers daily, making the impact of the closure felt not only in London but globally. Business sectors that rely on air freight are also bracing for significant delays in goods and shipments.
As emergency services continue to manage the fire, travelers are urged to stay updated on their flight statuses and avoid the airport until further notice, with expected disruptions to persist for several days following the incident.
