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A fire at an electrical substation causes Heathrow Airport to close until midnight, leaving passengers stranded and flights diverted worldwide.
Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has been forced to close until midnight on Friday, March 21, due to a massive power outage. The closure is causing major disruption for thousands of travelers.
The power failure happened because of a fire at an electrical substation that supplies power to the airport. As a result, the airport decided to shut down all operations to keep passengers and staff safe.
In a statement posted on social media, Heathrow officials announced: “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on March 21. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
The flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that at least 1,351 flights would be affected by this shutdown. At the time of the announcement, 120 planes were already in the air heading to Heathrow. Those flights were either diverted to other airports or sent back to their starting locations.
A Heathrow spokesperson explained that they were trying to prevent passengers from arriving at the airport while also working with airlines to deal with delayed, canceled, or redirected flights. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines to arrange alternative flights.
Heathrow is an important global airport, connecting travelers to over 200 destinations across nearly 90 countries. In 2023, the airport handled a record-breaking 84 million passengers.
The true extent of the chaos only became clear hours after the announcement, as the first flights from Heathrow typically take off at 6:00 AM GMT.
As the UK woke up to the news on Friday morning, the impact of the airport closure was already being felt in other parts of the world, including Asia. For example, Singapore’s Changi Airport advised passengers to check with their airlines about their flights.
Social media users shared videos of a huge fire with towering flames and thick black smoke filling the sky. The London Fire Brigade responded to the fire at the electrical substation in Hayes, a town near the airport. They sent 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to battle the blaze.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne of the London Fire Brigade called it a “highly visible and significant incident.” He said that firefighters were working under very difficult conditions to put out the fire as quickly as possible.
The fire caused a power outage that affected many homes and businesses in the area. Firefighters led 29 people to safety from nearby buildings, and about 150 residents were evacuated as a safety measure. Authorities set up a 200-meter safety zone around the site of the fire.
Goulbourne warned that this would be a long-lasting incident, and fire crews would remain at the scene throughout the night.
He also cautioned that disruptions would increase as the day went on, urging people to avoid the area if possible. Because of the large amount of smoke, local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed for safety.
As efforts to control the fire continue, the airport’s closure is expected to have a ripple effect across the world, causing delays and disruptions for travelers everywhere. People with upcoming flights are urged to stay updated by checking with their airlines.