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Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest and most globally connected airports, has been forced to shut down until midnight on Friday, March 21, 2025, following a significant power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation. The closure has thrown the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers into chaos, with at least 1,351 flights affected, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.
Cause of the Shutdown
The power outage was triggered by a massive fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport. Footage shared on social media showed flames several storeys high, lighting up the night sky and emitting large plumes of black smoke. The London Fire Brigade deployed 10 engines and approximately 70 firefighters to the scene in Hayes, west London, to bring the blaze under control.
“This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” said Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne. “Thanks to their efforts and coordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread.”
Impact on Travel
Heathrow Airport announced the closure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), advising passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airlines for further information. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,” the statement read. “We apologise for the inconvenience.”
The shutdown has caused widespread disruption, with roads leading to the airport blocked and local traffic thrown into chaos. However, the impact extends far beyond London, as Heathrow serves more than 200 destinations in nearly 90 countries and territories. Last year, the airport handled nearly 84 million passengers, making it Europe’s busiest gateway.
Global Ripple Effects
Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas warned that the closure would create “mayhem” for at least 24 to 72 hours. “About a quarter of a million passengers were expected to be diverted all over Europe and the United Kingdom,” he told Al Jazeera. “Other airports around the UK can handle diverted flights, but their ability to manage this volume would be very problematic.”
Thomas also highlighted the logistical challenges for airlines, noting that diverted flights could leave crews and aircraft in the wrong locations, further complicating operations.
Passenger Experiences
The shutdown has left many passengers stranded or forced to cancel their plans. Ellen, a traveller from Surrey, had planned to fly to Venice for her 30th birthday but was forced to cancel her trip. “We have been offered a full refund by the airline, so we won’t be travelling this weekend but will try to rearrange for another time,” she said.
Lloyd, 34, was en route to Glasgow Airport for a flight to the United States via Heathrow when he received an email informing him that his flight had been rebooked and later cancelled. “While disappointing, it’s better than being stuck at Heathrow,” he said.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
