Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in London, will remain closed all day on Friday due to a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby substation.
All flights in and out of the airport have been canceled, and officials have warned passengers not to travel to the airport under any circumstances until it reopens.
Fire Breaks Out at Nearby Substation
The fire, which started at around 8 PM on Thursday, quickly led to widespread power issues across the airport.
A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed the situation early Friday morning, stating that the fire at the electrical substation caused a major outage.
Emergency crews have been on the scene, but there is still no clear timeline for when power will be fully restored.
With over 200,000 passengers typically passing through Heathrow each day, the closure is expected to cause significant disruption not just on Friday, but throughout the weekend as well.
Authorities Respond to the Situation
The London Fire Brigade has been actively working to contain the fire and ensure safety in the area.
Around 20 people from nearby properties have been evacuated, and a 200-meter cordon has been put in place as a precaution.
In total, nearly 150 individuals have been evacuated from the surrounding areas.
The fire has been producing a large amount of smoke, and local residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors shut.
Emergency crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall, and surrounding areas responded to the incident after the first call was received at 10:23 PM.
Despite their best efforts, the situation has yet to be fully contained.
Heathrow’s Statement and Continued Disruption
Heathrow officials have expressed their regret over the inconvenience this will cause passengers.
In a statement, they emphasized the importance of safety for both passengers and staff, stating that, “We have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025.”
They further added that while efforts are being made to resolve the situation, the airport expects continued disruption in the coming days.
Travelers are urged to stay updated and avoid heading to the airport until operations resume.
Heathrow has promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Despite the setbacks, they reassured the public that they are working diligently to fix the power issue and reopen the airport as soon as it is safe to do so.