London’s Heathrow Airport shut down on Friday following a fire at a nearby electricity substation that caused widespread power outages at the major transport hub. Fire crews are actively responding, but the airport stated it remains uncertain when power will be fully restored.
To ensure passenger and staff safety, Heathrow announced it would remain closed until 23:59 on March 21, 2025, and warned of significant disruptions in the coming days.
Travelers were advised not to visit the airport until operations resume.
Heathrow acknowledged the inconvenience but assured the public that efforts were underway to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The London Fire Brigade reported that a transformer at a substation in Hayes, north of Heathrow, caught fire, leading to the evacuation of 150 people. Assistant Fire Commissioner Pat Goulbourne described the incident as highly visible and challenging, with heavy smoke affecting a large number of homes and businesses. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
As the largest of London’s six airports, Heathrow anticipates serving 84.2 million passengers this year. Originally a Royal Air Force airfield during World War II, it marked its 75th anniversary as a commercial airport in 2021.
