Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, has been forced to close its doors for 24 hours due to a significant power outage caused by a major fire at a nearby electrical substation. The outage has disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers, leading to widespread chaos across global flight networks.
In an official statement, the airport confirmed that operations would remain suspended until 23:59 local time on March 21, 2025, which translates to 10:59 AM on March 22 AEDT. The situation arose shortly before midnight on Thursday, March 20, when a transformer in the substation located in Hayes, west London, caught fire.
"To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 11:59 PM on March 21," the airport expressed via its social media account. "We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation."
The London Fire Brigade responded with ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters, who battled the intense blaze that forced the evacuation of approximately 150 residents from surrounding properties. "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," stated Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne.
Videos circulating on social media depict massive flames and dense smoke rising from the site, prompting news outlets to report on the exodus of local residents as emergency crews set up a 200-meter safety cordon.
The fire, which has left over 16,000 homes without power, has not only disrupted flights at Heathrow but has also impacted several airlines globally. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that at least 120 flights that were already in the air at the time of the shutdown had to divert to alternate airports.
As a direct consequence of the airport’s closure, two significant Qantas flights — one from Perth and another from Singapore — have been redirected to Paris, with travelers now searching for alternative routes to their final destinations. In total, FlightRadar24 revealed that the closure is expected to affect at least 1,351 flights worldwide.
Passengers are actively advised not to travel to the airport under any circumstances and should check their airline for further updates. UK National Rail also announced the cancellation of all rail services to and from Heathrow, exacerbating the travel dilemma faced by many.
The disruption likely extends beyond the immediate impacts at Heathrow, prompting concerns about how airlines will manage the backlog of affected passengers once operations resume. Industry expert Henry Harteveldt remarked, "This is going to be a chaotic couple of days. The other question is, what will airlines do to deal with the backlog of passengers?"
As firefighting efforts continue, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, leaving local authorities and airport officials with uncertain timelines regarding the restoration of typical operations. The London Fire Brigade has pledged to keep residents informed and urged anyone in the area to remain vigilant amidst the ongoing emergency.
With Heathrow serving as a vital hub for international travel and handling over 80 million passengers annually, the repercussions of this incident will likely ripple through the airline industry for weeks to come. Heath and travel experts alike are bracing for an extensive impact across global flight schedules.
Update will follow as authorities work towards resolving the situation and restoring vital electrical services to the complex infrastructure that supports flights at Heathrow Airport.
