London’s Heathrow Airport will remain closed for the entirety of Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation led to a major power outage. The shutdown is expected to impact more than 1,300 flights, with significant disruptions anticipated in the coming days.

The London Fire Brigade responded to the incident in Hayes, West London, shortly after 11 p.m. on Thursday. More than 70 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, which was brought under control by 8 a.m. Friday. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but there is no immediate suspicion of foul play.

A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport confirmed the closure, stating: “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025. Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until further notice.”

The incident has disrupted international travel, with arriving flights being diverted to other UK and European airports. Some aircraft, including a Qantas flight from Perth, were redirected mid-air. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have rerouted flights to Gatwick Airport, which remains operational.

The UK’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the event as “unusual and unprecedented,” confirming that power to nearly 100,000 homes was also affected, though most have since been restored.

Authorities are investigating the impact of the fire on Heathrow’s backup systems and the broader power infrastructure. Travelers are advised to check with airlines for updates.

Source: theguardian.com