Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the world, has been forced to close due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, leading to widespread flight cancellations and significant disruptions. The closure, which has impacted over 1,300 flights, has caused travel chaos across the globe.
The fire, which broke out at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, West London, resulted in a significant power outage, forcing the airport to suspend operations for the entire day.
Emergency services were quick to respond, with fire crews managing to bring the blaze under control by 6:28 GMT. However, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine the source of the catastrophic incident, according to The Guardian.
Extensive Flight Disruptions and Airport Chaos
According to reports from Flightradar24, over 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were expected to be affected by the closure. This includes flights that were already in the air when the shutdown occurred, with several of them diverted to other airports such as Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and Shannon Airport in Ireland.
British Airways, the largest carrier at the airport, confirmed that hundreds of its flights were impacted by the fire, and its passengers were urged to avoid travelling to Heathrow until further notice.
The airport closure is expected to cause severe disruption not just for domestic passengers but for travellers worldwide.
The situation is compounded by the limited capacity of other airports in the UK, as London’s secondary airports, including Gatwick and Stansted, do not have the facilities to handle Heathrow’s usual volume of flights. This has created a logistical nightmare for airlines trying to re-route flights and adjust their schedules.
Power Outage Recovery Efforts and Local Impact
The fire at the substation also caused widespread power outages in the surrounding areas. Over 16,000 homes in Hayes and neighbouring districts were initially left without power, according to the BBC. However, by 6:00 AM local time, the National Grid had successfully restored power to 62,000 properties.
Despite these efforts, around 4,900 homes remain without power as of the latest update. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that restoration work is ongoing, and authorities are working to reconnect all affected homes.
Local residents have also been affected by the ongoing incident, with approximately 150 people evacuated from nearby properties as a precaution.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that they had received nearly 200 calls about the fire, and a 200-metre safety cordon was put in place to ensure the safety of the public. Firefighters continued to battle the flames, with part of the transformer still burning until early this morning.
While the fire is now under control, the investigation into its cause is ongoing, with authorities working closely with the Metropolitan Police to identify the source of the blaze. The aftermath of this disruption will likely be felt for days, as the effects ripple across the travel industry and local communities.
