One of the world’s busiest airports, London’s Heathrow, is experiencing an unprecedented full-day shutdown on March 21, 2025, after a major power outage caused by a nearby substation fire brought operations to a standstill.
Authorities have confirmed that the airport will remain closed until midnight, with severe knock-on disruptions expected to last through the weekend.
What Happened
Late Thursday night, a fire broke out at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, just a few miles from Heathrow. The blaze led to a massive power failure affecting airport infrastructure and local neighborhoods. More than 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines responded to the incident, with emergency teams evacuating over 150 people from the area. As of Friday morning, parts of the transformer remain ablaze, and the fire is still being contained.
Impact on Travel
- All Heathrow terminals are shut for the day
- More than 1,300 flights have been canceled or diverted
- Up to 145,000 passengers are estimated to be impacted
- Flights from major cities including New York, Singapore, Seoul, and Perth have been rerouted or turned back mid-air
Travel analytics firm Cirium warned that global disruptions will stretch into next week, citing the scale of rescheduling needed for long-haul flights.
“It could take until Monday or longer to get everyone where they need to go,” Cirium said.
No Plan B?
Aviation experts are questioning Heathrow’s lack of contingency infrastructure.
“There has to be a Plan B,” said aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas. “You are the UK’s most critical travel hub. This level of vulnerability is astonishing.”
With no apparent back-up power plan, Heathrow’s dependence on a single substation has sparked broader concerns about infrastructure resilience across major global airports.
What Travelers Should Know
Heathrow officials have asked travelers to avoid the airport completely and not attempt to reach terminals. Passengers should contact their airlines directly for rebooking options. British Airways and other carriers have begun rerouting flights and rescheduling operations out of nearby airports including Gatwick, Manchester, and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Some flights have also been redirected to North America, including New York’s JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Washington Dulles.
Looking Ahead
While power has been restored to some homes and businesses, there is no clear timeline on when Heathrow Airport can resume operations on the back of this substation fire. Officials say the incident will remain a “prolonged emergency,” with flight delays, reroutes, and passenger congestion expected to ripple through the global air travel network for days.
If you are due to travel this weekend, double-check flight status and monitor airline alerts.
