One of World’s Busiest Airports Forced to Close for Entire Day
London’s Heathrow Airport, a critical global transportation hub, has announced an unprecedented full-day closure on Friday following what officials described as a “significant power outage” caused by a major electrical fire in the vicinity. The shutdown of one of the world’s busiest airports has triggered massive flight disruptions, affecting thousands of travelers worldwide.
Flights diverted as crisis unfolds
According to real-time data from flight-tracking service FlightRadar24, numerous aircraft have already been rerouted to alternative airports. The tracking website reported approximately 120 planes in the air at the time of the announcement that were forced to divert to other locations or return to their points of origin.
Airport authorities have warned passengers to expect “significant disruption” that will likely extend beyond Friday and impact travel plans for days to come.
“Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,” Heathrow Airport announced in an official statement posted to X.
Emergency response to “significant” electrical fire
The London Fire Brigade confirmed they are battling a substantial fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, located in the London borough of Hillingdon near the airport grounds.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne addressed the situation, stating: “The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimize disruption.”
“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.”
Major disruption to global travel network
The temporary closure of Heathrow, which handled approximately 80 million passengers in 2023, represents a major disruption to international air travel. As a primary hub connecting continents, the ripple effects of this shutdown are expected to impact flight schedules globally.
Travelers are being advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to anticipate potential delays and cancellations even after operations resume. Airlines are scrambling to accommodate affected passengers by rebooking flights and arranging alternative transportation where possible.
Aviation authorities and Heathrow officials are expected to provide further updates as the situation develops and as power restoration efforts continue throughout the day.