UK’s Heathrow Airport, the world’s busiest aviation hubs, announced on Friday that it will be closed until midnight on March 21, after experiencing a power outage due to a fire at an electrical substation.
The closure was confirmed by airport officials, who noted that the fire originated at an electrical substation supplying power to Heathrow. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on March 21,” the airport stated on X.
In response to the fire, the London Fire Brigade reported that a transformer at the substation in Hayes, located in west London, had caught fire. Approximately 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines have been deployed to combat the blaze, which was first reported around 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday.
“Disruption is expected to increase as the morning progresses, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible,” said Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, emphasizing the ongoing emergency response efforts.
Eurocontrol, which handles air traffic control operations across Europe, stated on it’s website that no flights were allowed to arrive at Heathrow airport and that diversion plans were in place for all incoming flights.
Heathrow was the world’s second-busiest international airport in 2024 behind Dubai, reported Reuters citing travel data firm OAG.
The fire at North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, west London, has left not only the airport, but thousands of homes without power. The London Fire Brigade said a transformer within the substation had caught on fire, as reported by local media.
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