London’s Heathrow Airport announced a full-day shutdown on Friday due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying power to the airport, causing a widespread outage.
In a statement on X, Heathrow authorities confirmed the closure, citing passenger and staff safety as the top priority. “Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,” the statement read. Travelers were advised not to come to the airport and to contact their airlines for further updates.
As one of the busiest airports in the world, Heathrow warned of “significant disruptions” in the coming days. In a statement to CNN, airport officials admitted they “do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.”
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that the fire broke out at a transformer within an electrical substation in Hayes, west London. Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire trucks responded to the blaze. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne described it as a “highly visible and significant incident,” adding that crews were working under challenging conditions to bring the fire under control.
The power outage has affected a large number of homes and businesses in the surrounding area. Emergency responders evacuated around 150 people and established a 200-meter safety cordon. Firefighters also led 29 people to safety from neighboring properties.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, and disruptions are expected to persist. The London Fire Brigade has urged people to avoid the area while they work to contain the situation. Further updates are awaited.
