Heathrow Airport will remain closed throughout Friday following a devastating fire at a nearby electrical substation, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing severe disruption to air travel.
The blaze, which broke out late on Thursday evening at a power facility in Hayes, has left the UK’s busiest airport without electricity, prompting authorities to shut down operations entirely.
In a statement released early Friday morning, Heathrow officials warned of “significant disruption” over the coming days and urged passengers not to attempt to travel to the airport “under any circumstances” until further notice. “We appreciate the frustration and inconvenience this will cause to travellers, but our priority is ensuring the safety of all passengers and staff while power is restored,” the statement read.
The fire has also plunged more than 16,300 homes in the surrounding area into darkness, forcing the evacuation of approximately 150 residents from nearby properties. Emergency services worked through the night to contain the blaze, but the extent of the damage to the substation remains unclear. Engineers are currently assessing the impact, though no timeframe has been given for when power might be fully restored.
Air Travel Chaos
With Heathrow handling around 1,300 flights a day, the shutdown is expected to have a ripple effect on global air travel. According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, at least 1,351 flights to and from the airport could be cancelled today alone, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Major airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have scrambled to accommodate affected travellers, with some flights being rerouted to alternative UK airports such as Gatwick and Stansted. However, limited capacity at these locations means many passengers face significant delays or outright cancellations.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Heathrow Airport and relevant authorities to assist our customers as best we can. We advise all passengers due to travel today to check the latest updates before heading to the airport.”
Meanwhile, transport hubs across London are bracing for an influx of stranded passengers seeking alternative routes home or to other airports. Train and coach services are expected to be busier than usual, with National Express and rail operators already warning of increased demand on key routes.
Uncertainty Over Fire’s Cause
The cause of the fire remains unknown, with investigations now underway. London Fire Brigade officials have confirmed that crews were dispatched to the substation in Hayes late on Thursday evening, where they battled the flames for several hours.
“Our teams worked tirelessly overnight to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further,” said a spokesperson for the fire service. “Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries, but the damage to the electrical infrastructure is substantial.”
Industry experts have suggested that restoring full power to the airport could take several days, further compounding the disruption. Questions are also being raised about the resilience of Heathrow’s infrastructure, with calls for urgent investment in backup power systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Passengers Left in Limbo
The abrupt closure has left thousands of passengers stranded, both in the UK and abroad. Many have taken to social media to express their frustration, with images emerging of long queues and confusion at terminals.
“I was supposed to fly to New York this morning, but now I have no idea what to do,” one traveller posted on X (formerly Twitter). “No one seems to have any answers.”
For those already in the air when the fire broke out, diversion to other UK airports has caused further logistical nightmares. “We landed in Manchester instead of Heathrow, and now we have to figure out how to get back to London,” another passenger wrote.
Travel experts are advising passengers to contact their airlines immediately for rebooking options and to check travel insurance policies for possible compensation.
With Heathrow set to remain closed for at least the remainder of Friday, all eyes are on power engineers working to assess the extent of the damage. The airport has pledged to provide regular updates, but officials have warned that full operations may not resume for several days.
Until then, the advice remains the same: if you were planning to fly to or from Heathrow today, do not travel to the airport.
With airlines scrambling to manage the fallout, passengers are urged to check for updates and consider alternative travel arrangements where possible.
