Heathrow Airport in London was forced to shut down on Friday following a significant power disruption caused by a fire at an adjacent electrical substation, airport representatives confirmed.
The spokesperson of Heathrow said that the airport is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport, adding that there is no timeline for the restoration of power as of now.
The airport is expecting massive disruptions in the subsequent days, and the airport urges passengers to avoid traveling to the airport until operations resume, said the spokesperson.
U.K. Energy Minister Ed Miliband labeled the fire as “catastrophic,” noting that the flames had also compromised the airport’s backup generator, according to a report by Reuters. Miliband elaborated that efforts were underway by the National Grid to activate an alternative backup solution to reinstate power at the airport. While the cause of the fire remains unidentified, foul play is not considered a factor.
Heathrow, the largest airport across Europe, will persist in its closure until at least the end of Friday. The shutdown has caused disruptions to over 120 flights already in midair, which were compelled to either reroute or return to their point of origin, flight-tracking service Flightradar24 revealed. Altogether, 679 inbound and 678 outbound flights were expected at Heathrow today, showcasing the extent of the impact.
Friday’s closure meant halting operations for an airport scheduled to transport 290,000 passengers throughout the day, as noted by Reuters. United Airlines disclosed that seven flights were affected, either diverted or returned, adding that it canceled all scheduled flights to London Heathrow on Friday.
NBC reported that Emirates, Air India, SAS, and Aer Lingus have canceled all Friday flights to and from Heathrow. Meanwhile, certain flights are redirecting to London Gatwick Airport, according to NBC News. Virgin Atlantic also announced expectations of multiple cancellations on Friday’s itinerary at Heathrow.
Heathrow, a hub for over 90 airlines serving over 230 destinations across roughly 90 countries, is home base to major carriers such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa.
