A fire at an electrical substation in West London has led to a total shutdown of Heathrow Airport as it grapples with a significant power outage. The blaze erupted on March 21, 2025, at the North Hyde electrical substation, triggering a massive disruption at Europe’s busiest airport.
British Airways services from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness to Heathrow have been canceled, affecting numerous passengers, especially Scotland fans returning from the UEFA Nations League play-off match against Greece in Athens. The fire has resulted in more than 1,300 flights being disrupted, causing major chaos for travelers, many of whom are still trying to get home.
According to officials, about 120 flights were en route to Heathrow when the closure was announced earlier in the day. The airport released a statement asserting that they are unsure when normal electrical supplies will be restored, adding, "Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on March 21." They went on to advise travelers against proceeding to the airport and to contact their airlines for further assistance.
Travel writer Simon Calder discussed the extent of the disruption while speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland. He mentioned that the scale of this shutdown reminds him of the massive disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption back in 2010. "It’s certainly an unprecedented situation given the scope of flight cancellations and the number of impacted passengers," Calder said.
Among those directly affected, BBC journalist Thomas Mackintosh was scheduled to fly into Heathrow after watching Scotland secure a 1-0 victory over Greece. While sharing his experience on the radio, he noted the creativity some passengers were exhibiting while searching for alternative travel arrangements. "We’ve heard some pretty wacky routes so far from friends of ours. Some are going via Dublin, others through Rome, Milan, and even Istanbul. It’s inconvenient for sure, but it can’t be helped at the minute, and the Greek authorities have been really helpful," Mackintosh said.
He went on to express his relief for being able to book another flight, although at a significant cost. “Fortunately, we have been able to book on another flight, but that has come at a bit of an expense, about €500 (£418).”
At Edinburgh Airport, officials confirmed that 10 outbound and 12 inbound services were significantly impacted due to the fire. Meanwhile, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), responsible for managing Inverness Airport, announced the cancellation of the 10:00 arrival from Heathrow and the 11:05 departure to that airport.
In light of these cancellations, passengers are left navigating the challenging landscape of rebooking their flights or possibly seeking refunds. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, explained that many passengers may not be entitled to compensation if their flights were canceled due to the incident. However, he noted that travelers could potentially claim refunds for tickets and parking via their insurance providers. He stated, "Passengers will have the choice of being rerouted or accepting a refund. If you opt for the former, your airline is obliged to get you on a new flight as soon as possible, including with rival carriers from alternative airports. If you instead accept a refund, be aware that your airline will have no further duty of care to you and you’ll need to make your own arrangements."
As the situation develops, passengers originally scheduled to fly to Heathrow are encouraged to check their airline's customer service channels for the latest information. With clear implications for air travel not only in the UK but also across Europe, the incident at the electrical substation serves as a stark reminder of how interconnected air travel has become.
Heathrow Airport’s handling of this crisis will also be scrutinized, as the airport manages both the practical logistics of dealing with the immediate fallout and the reputational concerns stemming from such a far-reaching service disruption. As of now, travelers are in limbo with limited clarity on when operations will resume fully. The ongoing shutdown is set to last for several days, leaving many anxiously awaiting updates on their travel itineraries.
