London's Heathrow Airport Still Halted due to Power Failure
Unplanned Heathrow Shutdown: A Day of Disruption Due to Substation Fire
In an unexpected turn of events, London's bustling Heathrow Airport will remain closed throughout Friday, following a power outage triggered by a fire at a local power substation. Travellers are urged to avoid the airport and contact their airlines instead.
Via a Twitter post, Heathrow Airport announced the shutdown, emphasizing safety concerns: "In order to ensure the well-being of our passengers and staff, Heathrow will remain off-limits until 23:59 on March 21st." Alas, it's advisable to steer clear of the airport. The power crisis stems from a blaze in a nearby substation that supplies electricity to the airport, with videographers reporting visible flames on-site.
The London Fire Brigade has rallied around 70 firefighters to combat the inferno in west London. The incident's causation remains a mystery for now. As Europe's busiest and the world's fifth-busiest airport, the power outage has led to numerous flight diversions, such as Qantas Airways' Perth-Paris flight and United Airlines' New York-bound flight, which were redirected to Shannon in Ireland. Some transatlantic flights altered course mid-flight and returned to their departure points.
No Arrivals Permitted
Eurocontrol, responsible for managing air traffic over Europe, has upheld the prohibition of arrivals due to the power outage and presented plans to divert flights.
The London Fire Brigade's activities were focused on extinguishing the fire in Hayes, west London, necessitating the evacuation of around 150 people as a precautionary measure. Pat Goulbourne, the London Fire Brigade's deputy assistant commissioner, declared, "This fire has resulted in a widespread power outage impacting numerous households and businesses in the area. Our firefighters have managed to rescued 29 individuals from nearby residences, and we have set up a 200-meter safety perimeter and evacuated roughly 150 individuals as a safety precaution."
Sources: ntv.de, mau/rts
- Airports
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- London
Community policy regarding flight diversions during unexpected airport shutdowns requires travellers to contact their airlines for updates on rerouted flights. The employment policy, in this situation, demands additional support staff to manage increased customer inquiries.
Furthermore, the employment policy must accommodate the London Fire Brigade personnel, who are currently working tirelessly to contain the substation fire at Heathrow. This includes managing evacuations and conducting rescue operations, as was needed for nearby residents in the affected area.
Lastly, Heathrow Airport's community policy should focus on ensuring clear communication with visitors and the local community about the ongoing situation, potential outages, and the expected recovery process.
