Heathrow Airport, one of the world's biggest air travel hubs, had to close on Friday due to a severe power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation, resulting in extensive aircraft cancellations and disruptions.
Heathrow Airport has declared that it would stay closed until 23:59 GMT on March 21 as a safety precaution for passengers and employees.
"To ensure the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on March 21," the airport announced in a post on X, previously Twitter.
"Passengers are urged not to travel to the airport and to contact their airline for more information. "We apologise for the inconvenience."
The suspension has disrupted travel plans, affecting at least 1,351 flights, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. Furthermore, around 120 planes on the way to Heathrow at the time of the shutdown were either diverted to alternate airports or forced to return to their original locations.
The London Fire Brigade said that 10 fire engines and roughly 70 firemen were rushed to combat the incident near the airport. Officials advised locals to avoid the area and keep their windows closed to avoid smoke inhalation.
"We are on the scene and working to bring the fire under control," the fire department wrote on X. "This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night."
Heathrow, with almost 84 million passengers in 2024, is one of the world's busiest airports. The sudden shutdown has left thousands of travellers stuck, and airlines are trying to accommodate impacted customers.
While officials have not confirmed the exact extent of the damage, the power outage highlights the susceptibility of key infrastructure to similar catastrophes.
As emergency services continue to operate, more information on flight rescheduling and airport reopening should be available.
Notable cases of airport closures in the UK:
Heathrow Airport Drone Disruption (December 2018–January 2019)
Cause: Reports of drone activity near the runway caused significant disruptions at Heathrow and Gatwick Airport.
Impact: Gatwick Airport was closed for 36 hours, disrupting over 1,000 flights and stranding 140,000 passengers. Heathrow also momentarily suspended operations as a precaution.
Icelandic Volcanic Ash Cloud (April 2010).
Cause: The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano created a large ash cloud that presented a risk to aeroplane engines.
Impact: The UK airspace, including all major airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester, was blocked for over a week, affecting approximately 100,000 flights across Europe.
Heathrow Security Scare (August 2006).
Cause: A failed terrorist attempt to explode liquid bombs on transatlantic flights prompted increased security measures.
Impact: Heathrow and other UK airports were partially shut down, resulting in widespread cancellations and delays. Passengers were subjected to extensive security checks, including a temporary prohibition on bringing liquids in handbags.
Climate activists block Heathrow's runway (July 2015).
Cause: Activists from the "Plane Stupid" organisation stormed into Heathrow's north runway to oppose airport development.
Impact: Several planes were delayed or cancelled, and police detained several demonstrators.
Snowstorm and Freezing Conditions (December 2010 and March 2018)
Cause: Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester airports were closed due to heavy snowfall and slippery conditions.
Impact: In December 2010, Heathrow was closed for many days, causing significant flight delays. Similarly, the snowfall caused by the "Beast from the East" in March 2018 resulted in extensive cancellations and delays.
Heathrow's Fuel Supply Disruption (May 2017)
Cause: A gasoline delivery system breakdown hampered aircraft refuelling.
Impact: Dozens of flights were canceled, and passengers experienced considerable delays.
