(RightIsRight.co) – The sudden closure of Europe’s busiest airport, London’s Heathrow, triggered chaos as a massive electrical substation fire affected nearly 300,000 travelers.
See the tweet below.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating the cause, but Britain’s busiest airport remains completely shut down, stranding thousands of passengers globally as government officials demand answers to the infrastructure failure.
The airport announced its closure would last until at least 11:59 PM on March 21, 2025, after a devastating fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a widespread power outage.
Without reliable power, Heathrow officials decided to prioritize passenger and staff safety, effectively shutting down one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Approximately 1,351 flights were scheduled for Friday, with an estimated 291,000 passengers affected by the sudden closure.
British Airways has been hit hardest, with over half of its flights canceled, while American carriers, including United Airlines and Delta, scrambled to address the disruption.
London-Heathrow will be closed for ALL of Friday due to a “significant power outage” caused by a fire in an electrical substation.
There are currently 120 aircraft in the air that will be diverting to alternate airports or returning to their origins. https://t.co/TEHf2kJO23 pic.twitter.com/Lot0lsJLz8
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 21, 2025
As the government demands accountability, the Prime Minister’s office stated, “There are questions to answer” and emphasized, “We expect those questions to be answered.”
The fire at the electrical substation involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil, which required approximately 70 firefighters and 10 engines to bring under control.
While firefighters managed to contain the blaze by 6:30 a.m., the damage was already done.
Twenty-nine people were evacuated from nearby properties, and an additional 150 people were moved from within a 200-meter perimeter as a precaution.
In addition to the airport, the power outage affected approximately 5,000 nearby homes and businesses, creating a ripple effect of disruption throughout West London.
Hotels and pubs near the airport quickly filled with stranded passengers seeking accommodations and information about their travel plans.
The closure’s financial impact is substantial, with early estimates suggesting costs between £20 million and £30 million if operations resume within 48 hours.
The incident has also prompted the International Air Transport Association to call for a review of Heathrow’s infrastructure resilience, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in critical transportation systems.
Although counter-terrorism police are investigating, officials have stated, “While there is currently no indication of foul play we retain an open mind at this time.”
The National Grid expects power to be restored “in hours,” though Energy Secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged “it was too early to know” exactly when full service would resume.
For affected passengers, airlines are obligated to provide replacement journeys or refunds for canceled flights.
Such a dramatic halt at one of the world’s critical travel arteries raises legitimate concerns over how prepared global transport hubs are against unforeseen disruptions.
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