Heathrow Airport will remain closed all day today (March 21) after a fire broke out at a nearby electrical substation that supplies it with power.
As the world’s second-busiest airport, Heathrow has warned of “significant disruption” in the coming days and has urged passengers not to travel under any circumstances until operations resume.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, at least 1,351 flights to and from the airport could be cancelled today, with ripple effects expected to impact flights far beyond Heathrow.
The fire, which broke out at the substation in Hayes, has left more than 4,900 homes without power and led to the evacuation of 150 people from surrounding properties.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
In a statement, the airport said: “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
What do we know so far?
A fire at a substation in West London has triggered a power outage, leaving Heathrow Airport without electricity and forcing its closure until at least midnight on March 21, Friday. The shutdown is expected to disrupt hundreds of flights and affect thousands of passengers.
A Heathrow spokesperson stated there is “no clarity on when power may be reliably restored” but assured that staff are “working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
More than 16,300 homes have been left without power due to the fire in Hayes.
The London Fire Brigade has deployed around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to battle the blaze on Nestles Avenue.
The fire in Hayes has also left thousands of homes without power and led to the evacuation of around 150 people from nearby properties.
