An aerial {photograph} taken on March 21, 2025 exhibits smoke billowing from a substation supplying energy to Heathrow Airport amid efforts to douse the rest of the flames after a fireplace broke out in Hayes, west London. Britain’s Heathrow airport, Europe’s busiest, was shut down early on March 21 for twenty-four hours after a serious fireplace at an electrical energy substation minimize energy to the sprawling facility west of London, officers mentioned. (Picture by AFP)
LONDON, United Kingdom — Counter-terror police on Friday launched a probe into an electrical energy substation fireplace that shut down Heathrow airport inflicting journey chaos for passengers around the globe and the cancellation or diversion of lots of of flights from Europe’s busiest air hub.
Heathrow plies routes to round 80 nations and a few 1,350 flights had been as a consequence of land or take off from the airport’s 5 terminals on Friday, in keeping with the net flight monitoring web site Flightradar24.
Some 230,000 passengers a day and 83 million a yr use Heathrow, making it one of many world’s busiest airports.
London’s Metropolitan Police mentioned the drive’s Counter Terrorism Command was main enquiries given the “influence this incident has had on vital nationwide infrastructure.”
“Whereas there may be at present no indication of foul play we retain an open thoughts presently,” a spokesman added.
Firefighters have been referred to as to the “extremely seen” blaze on the substation shortly after 2320 GMT on Thursday and round 70 have been despatched to battle the fireplace, which was introduced underneath management by 0800 GMT.
UK Vitality Secretary Ed Miliband promised that the federal government would do all it may to revive energy to Heathrow rapidly, as questions have been raised concerning the airport’s “resilience.”
Electrical energy distribution community Nationwide Grid mentioned round 1400 GMT that energy had been partially restored to Heathrow in addition to to native residents affected.
Disruption
The shutdown left many pissed off passengers struggling to make various preparations.
“I had deliberate this journey three months in the past… I’ve spent a lot cash on tickets and the whole lot,” mentioned Muhammad Khalil, 28, who was booked on a flight to Pakistan to be reunited together with his spouse after 5 months.
“You possibly can’t think about how aggravating it’s for me,” he informed AFP.
British Airways mentioned the closure of its essential hub would have a “important influence” on its operations and prospects.
“We’re working as rapidly as potential to replace them on their journey choices for the following 24 hours and past,” it mentioned.
Talia Fokaides, 42, was supposed to depart London on Friday morning for Athens however rushed to Gatwick to get a brand new ticket when she heard the information.
Her mom was having open coronary heart surgical procedure later within the day.
“I simply have to be there,” she informed AFP, her voice shaking with emotion.
Diverted
Round 120 Heathrow-bound planes have been within the air when the closure was introduced, in keeping with Flightradar24.
The UK’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, mentioned it might settle for some flights from Heathrow. Others have been diverted to European airports together with Shannon in southwestern Eire, Frankfurt, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
London Fireplace Brigade deputy commissioner Jonathan Smith mentioned firefighters had labored “tirelessly in difficult and really hazardous situations.”
He informed reporters the fireplace had concerned a “transformer comprising of 25,000 litres of cooling oil absolutely alight” posing a hazard because of the substation’s “nonetheless dwell excessive voltage tools.”
One resident recalled listening to a “huge explosion” as the ability minimize out simply earlier than midnight whereas one other reported seeing a “brilliant flash of white.”
Round 150 individuals have been evacuated from close by properties due to the fireplace.
The outage left 100,000 properties with out energy in a single day with all besides 4,000 restored by morning.
Questions
As the dimensions of the disruption started to emerge, Miliband confronted questions on how one fireplace may shut down a complete airport.
He mentioned Nationwide Grid had informed him that they had not seen “something like the dimensions” of what occurred.
“However it makes Heathrow look fairly susceptible and subsequently we’ve acquired to study classes, as I say, about not simply Heathrow however how we shield our main infrastructure,” he informed ITV information.
Willie Walsh, director normal of airline trade commerce affiliation IATA, mentioned the closure was “one more case of Heathrow letting down each travellers and airways”.
“How is it that vital infrastructure — of nationwide and international significance — is completely depending on a single energy supply with out an alternate,” he wrote on X.
“If that’s the case — because it appears — then it’s a clear planning failure by the airport.”
Flights from everywhere in the world have been affected by the closure and aviation guide Philip Butterworth-Hayes informed AFP it might price “greater than £50 million ($64.7 million)” to the airport and airways.
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Located 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of central London, Heathrow’s essential flight locations final yr have been Dublin, Los Angeles, Madrid and New York.
