Flights around the world have been disrupted following the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The airport, the busiest in the UK, is experiencing significant disruption as a result of the blaze at North Hyde substation in Hayes, west London.
More than 1,300 flights have been affected, and passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport until further notice.
A fire at an electrical substation supplying Heathrow caused a major power outage, leading to the airport’s closure. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but emergency services were first called to the incident late Thursday night. The fire was brought under control in the early hours of Friday morning. The substation is located about a mile and a half from the airport. Videos shared online showed flames and smoke rising from the site. Residents in the surrounding area have been advised to keep doors and windows closed to avoid inhaling smoke. Several road closures are in place.
The airport will remain closed until at least 23:59 on 21 March. Authorities have warned passengers to expect significant disruption in the coming days. The power outage has affected numerous flights, causing airlines to cancel and divert services. Heathrow officials stated they do not yet have clarity on when power will be reliably restored. The airport has apologized for the disruption and advised passengers to check with their airlines for further updates.
At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow are expected to be affected, with some aircraft already in the air when the closure was announced. In addition to travel disruptions, thousands of homes in west London have lost power. About 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties. More than 16,300 homes initially lost power due to the fire, according to the energy supplier, with thousands still without electricity. Efforts are ongoing to restore power, with the National Grid working to address the outage as quickly as possible.
Passengers have been advised to stay away from the airport until further notice and to contact airlines directly for updates. Flights are being cancelled and diverted to other airports. Virgin Atlantic has cancelled all its flights to and from Heathrow until midday on 21 March. United Airlines confirmed that seven of its flights were rerouted or returned to their points of origin, with additional cancellations following the closure. The airline is working to provide alternative travel options for affected passengers.
Gatwick Airport has stated it is aware of the situation and is ready to provide support as needed. Several Qantas flights have been diverted from London to Paris, with additional schedule changes expected. British Airways has warned of a significant impact on its services. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has reported that around 30 flights were scheduled to and from Heathrow, with about half of them already cancelled. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has cancelled all its flights to London for the day.
Efforts to restore power and reopen the airport are ongoing, but the disruption is expected to last for some time. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
