Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest air travel hubs in the world, faced major disruptions on Friday after a fire at a nearby power substation left the airport without electricity. The incident resulted in the temporary closure of several terminals and caused significant delays for travelers.
Around 10 a.m., the fire at the power substation, located close to Terminal 2, triggered an automatic shutdown of key systems that control air traffic, security checks, and essential airport services. The fire caused widespread power outages, leaving both staff and passengers in the dark.
Airport officials acted swiftly, evacuating parts of the airport and redirecting flights to other airports to manage the chaos. Authorities also warned passengers to expect cancellations and severe delays throughout the day as the issue was being addressed.
By mid-afternoon, power was slowly restored to parts of the airport, but many flights remained grounded, and operations were still heavily impacted. Heathrow authorities urged travelers to check the status of their flights before arriving, with some airlines offering rescheduled flight options or full refunds to affected passengers.
This latest disruption comes at a time when travel demand at Heathrow was already at an all-time high due to the ongoing recovery from the pandemic. Many travelers have been left frustrated by the inconvenience, but airport officials have promised to investigate the cause of the fire and ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
Although the fire has been extinguished and efforts to restore power continue, the full extent of the damage to airport systems and the exact cause of the substation fire remains unclear. Officials are working with fire and safety experts to determine what led to the incident.
As of now, operations at Heathrow have resumed, though some delays may persist. Passengers planning to fly out of Heathrow in the coming days are advised to monitor updates and prepare for possible disruptions.
