Heathrow Airport shuts down after massive power outage caused by fire

File Source:X

Heathrow Airport has been forced to close for the entire day on Friday after a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a major power outage. The fire, which broke out late Thursday night in Hayes, west London, has left thousands of homes without electricity and forced the evacuation of around 150 people from surrounding properties.

“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,” the airport said in a statement. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

The airport, which handles around 1,300 flights daily and saw a record 83.9 million passengers last year, remains without power as emergency crews battle the fire. “Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored,” a Heathrow spokesperson said, adding that staff were “working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.” Passengers have been warned not to travel to the airport “under any circumstances” until it reopens.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) dispatched ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, which has sent a “significant amount of smoke” into the air. A 200-meter safety cordon has been established, and local residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

More than 16,300 homes in Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas have lost power due to the fire, according to energy supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. “We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” the company said on X.

The LFB reported receiving nearly 200 emergency calls about the fire, which was first reported at 23:23 on Thursday. The cause remains undetermined.

“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,” said LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulborne. “This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”

With no clear timeline for power restoration, the shutdown of Heathrow—the UK’s largest airport—is expected to have widespread ripple effects on travel and logistics.