- Heathrow Airport shut down Friday, March 21, due to a substation fire nearby. The incident impacted 100,000 passengers worldwide and canceled over 1,300 flights.
- Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, with emergency crews working to restore power and airport operations.
- Government officials work to collaborate with the National Grid to expedite recovery efforts.
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A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, triggered a widespread power outage and forced London’s Heathrow Airport to close on Friday, March 21. Officials said the fire caused significant disruptions to airport operations and impacted thousands of homes and businesses nearby.
Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025
To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.
Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport… pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd
The blaze knocked out power across the area and led to the cancellation or redirection of more than 1,300 flights. Over 100,000 passengers worldwide were affected.
Airport officials announced the closure in a statement, citing safety concerns for travelers and staff.
“Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” the airport posted on X. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information.”
How severe was the fire?
The London Fire Brigade responded with more than 70 firefighters after a transformer in the Hayes substation caught fire Thursday night, March 20. Emergency crews established an evacuation zone, evacuating about 150 people from nearby buildings.
The fire produced large plumes of smoke visible from a distance. Officials said the incident would take time to resolve.
“This will be a prolonged incident,” the fire service said, noting that crews remained on scene throughout the night.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire. Officials said power outages continue to affect several thousand homes, though crews have reduced the number of affected properties since the fire began.
How has travel been disrupted?
The airport’s full closure forced British Airways and other carriers to cancel or divert numerous flights. At least 1,351 flights were impacted, including transatlantic trips from New York and San Francisco. Some aircraft had to turn back mid-flight or divert to alternate destinations such as Ireland.
British Airways urged passengers to avoid Heathrow until further notice and said it is working to update travelers on alternative arrangements.
Rail service around Heathrow also shut down. The Heathrow Express, which connects the airport to London Paddington, suspended operations in both directions.
Transport for London reported no service between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow and said travelers should expect severe delays along routes to and from Paddington.
How are authorities responding?
Government officials work to coordinate with the National Grid to restore power.
Speaking to the BBC, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the situation “unprecedented” and said the government was doing everything possible to support the restoration effort.
Crews continue to assess damage to the substation while working to restore full power to the airport and surrounding neighborhoods.
Heathrow, one of the busiest international airports in the world, typically handles more than 200,000 passengers daily.
Officials expect travel disruptions to continue into the weekend as they work to recover from the outage.
