1 Day Shutdown: Heathrow Airport Power Loss Disrupts Global Travel

In a rare and troubling incident, Heathrow Airport—the busiest in the UK—has closed for an entire day following a severe power outage caused by a fire at the Hayes electricity substation in west London. This extraordinary event unfolded on Friday 21st March, resulting in widespread disruptions across international air travel, affecting countless passengers around the globe.

Heathrow ranks among the five busiest airports worldwide, servicing 80 countries and anticipating about 1,350 flights on Friday alone, as reported by Flightradar24.

With around 230,000 passengers passing through its terminals each day and boasting an annual tally of 83 million, the repercussions of this closure echoed all the way to Asia, where numerous flights have been cancelled or rerouted.

Fire services reported that the blaze broke out shortly before 11:30 PM on Thursday, significantly affecting the airport and leading to power outages that impacted “a substantial number of local homes and businesses.”

Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Heathrow Airport Holdings confirmed the gravity of the situation, stating, “Heathrow is experiencing a major power outage.

To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, Heathrow will be closed until 11:59 PM GMT on 21 March.”

The operator forewarned that “serious traffic disruptions are expected in the days to come.”

Energy Minister Ed Miliband commented on the incident’s unusual nature during an interview on Sky News, revealing that the backup generator, typically used in emergencies, had also been affected by the flames.

A swift response from emergency services saw ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters dispatched to the scene, successfully containing the blaze by Friday morning.

Approximately 150 residents were evacuated from the vicinity, and a safety perimeter was established.

Stunning images shared on social media throughout the night showed towering flames engulfing the substation.

By morning, an AFP journalist reported visible smoke lingering in the area, accompanied by the efforts of fire crews.

The distinct smell of smoke hung thick in the air, underscoring the severity of the incident.

Miliband noted that close to 100,000 homes were initially left without power due to the fire; however, this number had plummeted to about 4,900 by 6 AM, as per a National Grid spokesperson.

In light of this chaos, Heathrow Airport has advised travellers to “refrain from attempting to reach the airport until further notice.”

The ramifications of this fire extend far beyond London.

British Airways, the primary airline based at Heathrow, has warned that the closure will have a “significant impact” on its operations.

To manage the situation, Gatwick Airport, situated south of London, announced it had started accepting diverted flights to help ease the overwhelming pressures stemming from this crisis.

Consequently, Frankfurt Airport found itself receiving six flights on Friday 21st March morning due to the sudden closure of Heathrow Airport in London, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the German airport.

The disruption rippled outwards, affecting Spain significantly, with 54 flights either arriving at or departing from Heathrow left in limbo — the majority of these disruptions striking Madrid and Barcelona, according to AENA, the airport management authority.

The chaos didn’t stop there; two flights operated by Qantas intended for Heathrow – one direct from Perth, Australia, and another from Singapore – had to be rerouted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

In a similar vein, United Airlines faced its challenges too; seven of its flights either had to turn back to their original airports or head to different destinations.

All flights to Heathrow on that fateful Friday were cancelled, painting a dire picture for affected passengers.

At Changi Airport in Singapore, a couple on their way to London shared their distressing experience with AFP.

They had just reached the boarding area when the news of their flight’s cancellation hit them.

“We were informed that our flight was cancelled because of a fire in London,” the man recounted, choosing to remain unnamed.

“They booked us a hotel and mentioned they would update us on the next available flight, but that’s all the information we received,” he expressed with evident frustration.

Heathrow, established in 1946, is the largest of five airports serving the British capital.

Now operating at full capacity, it received the green light from the UK government in January for a long-awaited third runway, following years of opposition from local residents.

This much-needed expansion is slated for completion by 2035.

However, this fiasco is not isolated; a significant air traffic control outage in August 2023 had already caused substantial disruptions, forcing staff to manually enter flight plans.

That incident led to numerous delays and a wave of cancellations, with almost 2,000 flights scrapped within two days.

This situation leaves numerous travellers stranded and the aviation industry grappling with one of its most challenging days in recent memory.

Source: Le Mauricien