Heathrow Airport in London implements full closure due to a considerable power failure.
A Major Hiccup at Heathrow: Fire-Induced Shutdown
Greetings, folks! Here's the skinny on the chaos that's gripped London's busy Heathrow Airport. Due to a blaze at an electrical substation, the airport's faced a colossal power outage, forcing it to shut down all day on Friday, 22nd March.
In a nutshell, Heathrow spilled the beans in a statement, mentioning that a smoldering fire at an electrical substation had caused the catastrophe, and as a safety measure, the airport would remain closed till the stroke of midnight, 21st March. CNN's already reached out for more deets.
The London Fire Brigade echoed the statement, admitting a transformer inside an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, was blazing. Firefighters from ten engines swooped in to douse the inferno, saving 29 folks residing in nearby properties in the process. A 200-meter cordon was set up as a preventive measure, with around 150 people being evacuated.
The blaze started around 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday, and firefighters fought it through the wee hours of the night. The source of the fire, however, remains a mystery as investigations are underway. Footage shared on social media shows towering flames and smoke engulfing the skies early on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, the fire official on the case, left us with a cautionary warning: "As we break the dawn, expect disruption to skyrocket, and steer clear of the vicinity if you can."
The power outage also struck a chord with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, who confirmed a widespread blackout in the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas. Their website revealed the outage had left more than 16,000 homes in the dark.
Travelers would do well to avoid Heathrow and get updates from their airline, the airport recommends. Videos circling around on social media show Heathrow nearly in shadows during the power outage.
This story's still unfolding, so stay tuned for updates!
Note: The fire occurred late on 21st March, 2025, in Hayes, West London. Here are some insights into the incident:
- Origin of the Flames: The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. U.K.'s energy secretary Ed Miliband assured the cause and resilience measures in place for significant institutions will be thoroughly examined[1].
- Airport and Flight Impact: The fire hobbled operations at Heathrow, affecting over 200,000 travelers and causing around 1,350 flights worldwide to either cancel or divert[1][3].
- Off-site Effects: Beyond the airport, the fire caused power outages in more than 16,300 homes, with some local residents reporting explosions. Approximately 150 people were forced to vacate their homes due to safety concerns[1][3].
- Efforts to Extinguish: The London Fire Brigade dispatched 10 fire engines with around 70 firefighters to extinguish the blaze, claiming success by around 8 a.m. local time[1].
- Airport Recovery: Despite the closure on Friday, Heathrow managed to recommence some flights in the evening, with British Airways facilitating departures for long-haul flights.
- Travelers were advised to avoid Heathrow due to the electricity outage largely maintained by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, which affected approximately 16,000 homes in the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas.
- The fire at the electrical substation in Hayes, West London, which caused a power outage at Heathrow Airport, impacted over 200,000 travelers, resulting in around 1,350 flights getting canceled or diverted.
- The London Fire Brigade, who worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire at the Heathrow Airport's electrical substation, added vital support in maintaining safety for local residents, saving 29 people from nearby properties during the incident.
