A massive fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport caused widespread flight disruptions on Friday.
The blaze knocked out power at the airport, forcing authorities to halt operations and reroute flights across Europe and beyond. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport and the world’s fifth-busiest, experienced a total blackout after the fire also disabled its backup power system.
Flames and thick black smoke lit up the night sky as firefighters worked tirelessly to control the situation. By early morning, Heathrow’s roads remained eerily quiet, with only a few stranded passengers seen walking away with their luggage. Officials declared the fire under control, but significant damage had already been done, leaving thousands of travelers in limbo.
Fire investigators began assessing the cause of the blaze while working closely with other agencies to minimize disruption. The fire brigade confirmed that the origin of the fire remained unknown, though Energy Minister Ed Miliband ruled out foul play. Authorities reassured the public that a thorough investigation would take place to determine the root cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
With a total of 1,351 flights scheduled for the day, carrying up to 291,000 passengers, Heathrow faced immense pressure to restore operations.
However, officials announced that the airport would remain closed until midnight due to the ongoing power outage. Travelers were advised to contact their airlines for updates and avoid heading to the airport unnecessarily.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night at around 11 p.m. GMT, forced flights to divert to alternative airports across the United Kingdom and Europe. Several long-haul flights returned to their departure points, while others sought emergency landings at the nearest available airfields. The extent of the disruption underscored the airport’s reliance on a fully functional power grid.
Miliband described the fire as “catastrophic,” explaining that it disabled Heathrow’s backup power system and left engineers scrambling to deploy a third alternative power source. He emphasized the importance of investigating the failure to prevent similar infrastructure vulnerabilities. Officials promised a full review of the incident to determine whether further safeguards should be implemented.
Industry experts warned that passengers stranded in foreign airports might face difficulties if they lacked the necessary visa documentation. Many travelers, particularly those on connecting flights, could be confined to transit lounges for extended periods. The broader aviation network also faced complications, as aircraft found themselves out of position, causing delays worldwide.
Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for FlightRadar24, highlighted Heathrow’s role as a critical global hub. He explained that disruptions at Heathrow would ripple across the aviation industry, affecting international flight schedules for days. The impact of the shutdown extended beyond the airport, affecting airlines’ operations and financial markets.
British Airways, Heathrow’s largest carrier, had 341 flights scheduled to land on Friday, all of which faced uncertainty.
The turmoil affected airline stocks, with shares in British Airways’ parent company, IAG, taking a hit. Investors reacted to the operational chaos, reflecting concerns over potential financial losses.
At least 120 inbound flights had already diverted to alternative airports by early Friday, according to FlightRadar24. Qantas rerouted its Perth-to-London flight to Paris, while United Airlines redirected flights from New York to Shannon, Ireland, and from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Some flights turned around mid-air, returning to their original departure points.
Travel experts predicted that Heathrow’s closure would disrupt global airline operations far beyond London. The aviation industry relies on precise scheduling to ensure aircraft and crew are in the right locations. The sudden upheaval forced airlines to reorganize their networks to accommodate affected passengers and reposition planes.
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst, questioned how airlines would manage the inevitable backlog of passengers. He predicted several chaotic days ahead as airlines struggled to rebook flights and relocate stranded travelers. The cascading effect of Heathrow’s shutdown was expected to stretch across multiple continents.
Passengers took to social media to share their frustrations. Adrian Spender, a British retailer employee, posted on X that his Airbus A380 flight had been diverted with no clear destination. “No idea where we are going yet. Currently over Austria,” he wrote, illustrating the widespread confusion among travelers.
This incident marked another setback for Heathrow, which has experienced multiple disruptions in recent years. In 2023, an automated gate failure and an air traffic control system meltdown caused significant operational challenges. Heathrow officials acknowledged that power restoration remained uncertain, with disruptions likely to continue.
Beyond the airport, the fire affected local communities.
Several homes and businesses lost electricity, while firefighters evacuated 150 people as a precaution. A 200-meter safety cordon was established, and emergency crews led 29 people to safety from nearby buildings. Authorities worked to restore normalcy while investigating the fire’s impact.
As the aviation industry scrambled to recover, airlines, passengers, and airport staff faced mounting uncertainty. Heathrow’s closure sent shockwaves through global air travel, reinforcing the vulnerability of interconnected flight networks. The coming days would test the resilience of airlines and their ability to manage large-scale disruptions efficiently.
