LONDON — Heathrow Airport announced on Friday, March 21, 2025, that it would remain closed until midnight following a severe power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation nearby. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on March 21," the airport stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, advising travelers to avoid coming to the airport.
Emergency services are grappling with the situation, and there is no timeline for restoring power. A spokesperson for Heathrow stated to Reuters, "We expect significant disruption over the coming days." The airport is expected to experience a major backlog as the closure affects thousands of travelers.
Eurocontrol, the organization managing air traffic control in Europe, confirmed that no flights were arriving at Heathrow due to the outage, with alternate plans being executed for diverted flights. Additionally, the impact of this outage can already be felt on global airline operations. Flight tracking app FlightRadar24 noted that an array of flights were being rerouted, including a United Airlines flight from New York, which was being diverted to Shannon, Ireland, and a United flight from San Francisco slated for Washington, D.C.
The outage is significant, as Heathrow is the world's second busiest international airport, following Dubai, handling over 1,350 flights and around 200,000 passengers daily. British Airways, which has the largest presence at Heathrow, is feeling a deep impact due to this incident. The airline stated, "We’re working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond," and confirmed it is also redirecting inbound flights already en route to other UK airports.
Firefighters from the London Fire Brigade were dispatched to the scene, where flames were visible. They reported that approximately 150 individuals were evacuated from nearby structures as a precautionary measure. An emergency crew comprising ten fire engines and about seventy firefighters were engaged in tackling the flames at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, west of London.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne of the London Fire Brigade stated, "This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible." The crew has faced considerable challenges given the size of the blaze, described in social media footage as having produced immense flames and large plumes of smoke.
As a result of the power outage, thousands of homes in the surrounding communities have also experienced loss of electricity, with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks reporting that over 16,300 homes were affected. "We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas," the company posted on X.
The incident was reported to emergency services shortly after midnight on March 20, 2025. Despite extensive efforts to manage the situation, there is currently no specific date for when operations at Heathrow will resume.
Fire and rescue personnel emphasized that this would be a protracted incident, with crews continuing to work through the night. The public has been asked to avoid the vicinity of the fire scene, particularly given the safety risks associated with the ongoing firefighting efforts.
In a statement from the London Ambulance Service, they expressed their commitment to providing support to emergency services personnel operating at the scene, affirming that they are closely monitoring the situation.
Heathrow's closure is already expected to have ramifications on various airline schedules, stranding innumerable travelers and complicating connections across multiple flight paths. The expectation of continued disruption looms, adding to the uncertainty surrounding rescheduling options for travelers.
The authorities promise updates as they are received. To inform the public, they warn travelers to stay tuned for further information and to adhere to guidance from their airlines regarding next steps.
