A major power outage caused by a substation fire has forced London's Heathrow Airport to shut down completely on March 21, 2025, with operations suspended until midnight. The incident is causing widespread travel disruption affecting thousands of passengers worldwide.

The fire broke out at North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, near Heathrow, requiring response from 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines. The blaze continues to burn, with emergency teams having evacuated 150 people from the surrounding area.

Key Impact:

• All terminals closed
• 1,300+ flights canceled or diverted
• 145,000 passengers affected
• Major international flights rerouted
• Disruptions expected through next week

Aviation experts criticize Heathrow's lack of backup power infrastructure, highlighting concerns about the airport's vulnerability as the UK's primary travel hub.

Traveler Advisory:

• Avoid traveling to Heathrow
• Contact airlines directly for rebooking
• Check alternative airports: Gatwick, Manchester, Amsterdam Schiphol
• Monitor flight status for weekend travel

While power is returning to local areas, airport operations remain suspended. Officials warn of continued disruption to global air travel networks for several days, with normal operations unlikely to resume immediately after power restoration.

Affected passengers should maintain contact with their airlines and prepare for potential extended delays as the situation develops. The incident is expected to cause significant scheduling challenges for airlines worldwide, with normal service potentially taking until early next week to resume.

Related Articles

Previous Articles