Flights between Singapore and London’s Heathrow Airport faced significant disruptions on March 21 after the United Kingdom’s busiest airport was forced to shut down due to a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. This incident resulted in the cancellation and diversion of multiple flights, leaving passengers stranded and scrambling for alternative arrangements.
According to Singapore Airlines (SIA), several of its flights were directly affected by the fire, which broke out in the electrical substation in Hayes. Eight flights experienced cancellations or diversions on this day. For instance, Flight SQ318, scheduled to depart Singapore at 12.45 PM, was cancelled, while Flight SQ306, which left Singapore on the same day, was diverted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Flight SQ308 was also forced to return and is expected to land back in Changi Airport at approximately 4:30 PM, after which it would be cancelled.
Multiple flights from Heathrow to Singapore faced similar disruptions; namely, Flights SQ305, SQ317, SQ319, and SQ321 were all cancelled. The incident has led Heathrow authorities to warn of significant disruptions in the following days, affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers. They advised that passengers should not attempt to travel to the airport until it reopens. An online flight tracking service, FlightRadar24, reported that the closure would impact at least 1,351 flights and noted that 120 flights to the airport were already in the air at the time of the announcement.
SIA reassured passengers that it would provide necessary assistance for those affected, including hotel accommodations and the rebooking of flights or arranging land transport. All customers were urged to visit SIA's website for the crucial updates regarding flight statuses. “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. SIA apologises to all customers for the inconvenience caused,” the airline stated.
The closure of Heathrow, which was supposed to handle around 1,351 flights on that day, has had wide-reaching impacts on air travel around the globe, notably as it serves as a critical hub in the international flight network. The airport typically handles about 291,000 passengers daily, and its sudden inability to operate means that flight schedules would be further disrupted due to aircraft and crews being out of position.
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 indicated that the closure was causing significant repercussions across the airline industry, with many airlines including Qantas and British Airways also reporting cancelled or diverted flights. Qantas Flight QF1, which had been en route to London from Singapore, was diverted to Paris with affected passengers then being ferried to London by bus, undergoing an approximately nine-hour journey.
This fire at the electrical substation was classified as catastrophic by the United Kingdom’s Energy Minister Ed Miliband, who mentioned that it had knocked out not just the main power supply but also its backup system. Authorities reported that there were no immediate questions on the potential cause of the fire, but investigations are ongoing.
London Fire Brigade confirmed that around 70 firefighters had fought the blaze that erupted late on March 20, forcing the evacuation of approximately 150 people from nearby buildings. Thousands of homes in the vicinity experienced power outages due to the fire. The airport's spokesperson highlighted that the fire reported just after 11 PM had led to a mass disruption, noting that the airport would remain closed until midnight.
Passengers have faced further chaos as airlines scramble to accommodate disrupted schedules. “This is going to disrupt airlines’ operations worldwide,” said Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for FlightRadar24. Much discussion has arisen regarding how airlines will ultimately handle the mounting backlog of passengers created by the chain reaction caused by the electrical substation fire.
Travel industry experts predict that the fallout from this incident could ripple through the air travel sector for days as passengers are left in limbo. Many had no foresight of the closure and are now in emergency situations trying to find alternative flights or transport out of London. “It’s going to be a chaotic couple of days,” said Henry Harteveldt with Atmosphere Research Group.
As the news unfolds, Heathrow Airport remains an essential hub for international travel, bringing together millions of passengers annually and serving as a critical link between London and numerous global destinations. The sudden disruption exemplifies the fragility of air travel infrastructure amid unforeseen events like the fire that occurred.
Heathrow officials assured the public they are committed to restoring regular operations as soon as possible while coordinating efforts with local and national agencies. “We apologise for the inconvenience,” the spokesperson said, reinforcing their commitment to supporting passengers affected by these disruptions. The situation remains alive, and updates will continue to emerge as the recovery process unfolds.
