Heathrow Airport was shut down on Friday due to a massive fire at a nearby substation, which caused a power outage. Flights around the world are affected.
Europe’s busiest hub and the fifth busiest in the world halted operations at 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday. This closure of Heathrow Airport is causing global disruptions.
The London Fire Brigade responded quickly, sending seventy firefighters to battle the blaze. Orange flames illuminated west London while thick smoke billowed out.
#BREAKING 🇬🇧Heathrow Airport is closed all day due to a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical station. The airport, Europe’s busiest, will remain shut until 11:59 pm on Friday, disrupting travel and stranding thousands.
The closure will affect over 1,300… pic.twitter.com/Bp1KewLoZL
— 凤凰欧洲 PhoenixCNE News (@PhoenixCNE_News) March 21, 2025About 150 people evacuated nearby buildings, and thousands experienced power outages. “We don’t know the cause of the fire,” the brigade stated, emphasizing that safety is the top priority now.
Flights Scramble
Heathrow Airport’s operations were suspended until 11:59 p.m. on Friday. Officials warned travellers on X not to come to the airport. FlightRadar24 monitored the situation, noting that over 120 inbound flights were diverted. In total, at least 1,351 flights were affected.
'It will certainly take the whole weekend for people to end up where they need to be.'
Travel correspondent Simon Calder details the closure of Heathrow Airport following a fire at a nearby electrical station. pic.twitter.com/iiI4aQpoDp
— GB News (@GBNEWS) March 21, 2025British Airways had 341 flights scheduled to land, while Qantas and United Airlines had planes turned back mid-air. This situation has created a ripple effect throughout the aviation network.
Travel’s a mess ahead. “Heathrow’s a key hub,” said Ian Petchenik of FlightRadar24. Airlines are scrambling. Planes and crews are out of place. “What about the passenger backlog?” asked analyst Henry Harteveldt. The power’s still off. Chaos could last days, a Heathrow rep told Reuters.
