- Heathrow Airport will be closed through Friday after a nearby fire caused a significant power outage.
- The fire occurred at an electric substation in Hayes, 1.5 miles from Heathrow.
- London Fire Brigade deployed 70 firefighters and said disruption is expected to increase.
London’s Heathrow Airport will be closed through Friday after a large fire nearby led to a “significant power outage,” the airport said.
“Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage,” Heathrow Airport said in a statement shared on X early Friday morning local time.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.”
The airport, one of the world’s busiest, added that passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for more information. Last year, 83.9 million people flew through Heathrow, up 6% from the previous year.
Flightradar24, a live flight-tracking platform, told Business Insider that 120 flights already in the air are expected to be diverted from the airport. The platform said least 1,351 total flights would be affected.
“This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we’re working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond,” a British Airways representative said in a statement to BI. British Airways is one of the airport’s main airlines.
The airline is redirecting flights already on their way to Heathrow to other UK airports, the statement added.
Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images
The fire is at an electricity substation in Hayes in West London, about 1.5 miles from the airport. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters have been called to a fire, the London Fire Brigade said in a post on X.
Images show large flames and plumes of thick black smoke. Local media reported that tens of thousands of homes in the area are without power.
Around 150 people have been evacuated so far and a 200-meter cordon is in place, the London Fire Brigade said.
“This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night,” the Brigade wrote on its website. “As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”
London has several other international airports including Gatwick, the city’s second-busiest airport, and Stansted, known for budget flights and flights to Europe.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
