London’s Heathrow Airport was forced to shut down operations until midnight on March 21 after a massive fire at an electrical substation triggered a widespread power outage, disrupting flights and affecting thousands of homes in west London.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night, caused significant damage to the substation, leading to power failures across the region. According to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, more than 16,300 homes lost power, while around 150 people had to be evacuated from nearby areas.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow for the full day Friday,” the airport said in a statement.
“We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.”
The London Fire Brigade deployed 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters to the scene. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne confirmed, “The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption.”
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 11:23 p.m. on Thursday. Footage circulating on social media showed massive flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site. A user on X cited Russian media sources on Telegram while sharing visuals of the blaze.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, and there is no timeline for full restoration of power. Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel, has warned of continued disruption in the coming days, urging travellers to stay updated through their airlines.