Major disruptions as Heathrow faces complete shutdown
Heathrow Airport was completely shut down on Friday following a power cut caused by a fire at a London electricity substation, leading to massive travel disruptions for passengers worldwide and the cancellation or diversion of hundreds of flights from Europe’s busiest air hub.
Thousands stranded as flights get canceled or diverted
Serving routes to around 80 countries, Heathrow had 1,350 flights scheduled to land or take off from its five terminals on Friday, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
Some 230,000 passengers travel through Heathrow daily, totaling 83 million annually, making it one of the world’s busiest airports.
Firefighters responded to a “highly visible” blaze at the substation shortly after 23:20 GMT on Thursday, deploying around 70 personnel to battle the flames. The fire was brought under control by 08:00 GMT on Friday.
Government promises swift action amid questions on resilience
UK energy secretary Ed Miliband assured that the government would do everything possible to restore power quickly, as concerns were raised about the airport’s vulnerability to such incidents.
Videos shared on social media showed shuttered shops and deserted corridors inside Heathrow, illuminated only by emergency lighting.
Many passengers were left scrambling for alternative travel arrangements.
“I had planned this journey three months ago… I’ve spent so much money on tickets and everything,” said Muhammad Khalil, 28, who was booked on a flight to Pakistan to reunite with his wife after five months.
“You can’t imagine how stressful it is for me,” he told AFP from London’s Paddington train station, where he had been preparing to travel to Heathrow.
British Airways calls closure a “significant impact”
British Airways, which operates from Heathrow, said the closure would have a “significant impact” on its operations and customers.
“We’re working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond,” the airline stated.
Passengers rush to other airports as flights get diverted
Talia Fokaides, 42, who was scheduled to fly from London to Athens on Friday morning, rushed to Gatwick to book a new ticket upon hearing the news.
Her mother was undergoing open-heart surgery later that day.
“I just need to be there,” she told AFP, her voice trembling with emotion.
According to Flightradar24, around 120 planes bound for Heathrow were already airborne when the closure was announced.
Authorities at Heathrow warned of “significant disruption” in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Gatwick, the UK’s second-busiest airport, announced that it would accommodate some diverted Heathrow flights. Other planes were rerouted to Shannon (Ireland), Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Residents describe “massive explosion” before power cut
A resident near the affected substation described hearing a “massive explosion” just before midnight, while a night shift worker reported witnessing a “bright flash of white.”
Around 150 people were evacuated from nearby properties due to the fire.
Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith of the London Fire Brigade told reporters that firefighters worked “tirelessly in challenging and hazardous conditions” to bring the fire under control.
The blaze involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil, which was fully engulfed, posing risks due to live high-voltage equipment at the site.
100,000 homes lost power overnight
The outage left 100,000 homes without electricity overnight, energy secretary Ed Miliband confirmed.
By morning, power had been restored to all but around 4,000 homes.
As the extent of the airport shutdown unfolded, officials faced tough questions about how a single fire could cripple an entire airport.
The UK’s National Grid said it had never witnessed a disruption of this scale before.
“It makes Heathrow look quite vulnerable, and we must learn lessons—not just about Heathrow, but how we protect our major infrastructure,” Miliband told ITV News.
Speculation over possible arson, but no confirmation yet
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the parliamentary transport committee, stated that it was too early to confirm whether arson was involved.
“There are obviously questions about it,” she told Times Radio.
Airlines face heavy losses, disruptions expected to continue
Flights worldwide were affected by the Heathrow closure, and aviation consultant Philip Butterworth-Hayes estimated that the financial losses to airlines and the airport would exceed £50 million ($64.7 million).
In January 2025, the UK government approved the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, which could be operational by 2035, after years of legal battles with local residents opposing expansion.
London is served by five major airports, but Heathrow—spanning 12.3 square kilometers (4.8 square miles)—is stretched to capacity with just two runways, each measuring nearly four kilometers (2.5 miles) in length.
Last year, Heathrow’s top flight destinations were Dublin, Los Angeles, Madrid, and New York.