A fire at an electrical substation supplying London Heathrow Airport resulted in a significant power outage, leading to the suspension of numerous flights and the evacuation of 180 individuals. Authorities are conducting an investigation into the cause of the incident, while airlines such as British Airways are working to assist stranded passengers amidst widespread travel disruptions.
London’s busiest airport was forced to shut down today as a result of a fire at the electrical substation responsible for powering the airport. The power outage, which occurred due to a fire in Hayes, west London, left London Heathrow without electricity on Friday, March 21.
London Fire Brigade dispatched 10 engines and around 70 firefighters to the scene, where fortunately no injuries were reported. Approximately 180 people were evacuated from their homes, and a 200-meter cordon was established around the affected substation. The power outage impacted not only homes and businesses but also Heathrow Airport, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights.
In a statement, Heathrow Airport announced, “Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is currently facing a significant power outage. For the safety of our passengers and staff, Heathrow will remain closed until 23:59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised to avoid traveling to the airport and to contact their airline for further details. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
Thousands of flights scheduled to depart from and arrive at Heathrow on that day, including those to and from various European destinations as well as cities such as Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Toronto, were affected. British Airways, the primary airline at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, in partnership with American Airlines for transatlantic flights, released a statement advising passengers not to travel to Heathrow due to the ongoing power outage.
Additionally, Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second busiest airport, offered to accommodate some flights from Heathrow in response to the situation. Passengers left stranded by the fire are seeking answers as to the cause of the power outage, with questions raised about how a facility as large as Heathrow was left completely without power.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated in an interview with Sky News that the fire also caused damage to the airport’s backup generator. He described the situation as “unusual and unprecedented” due to the damage sustained by both the primary and backup generators. While the exact cause of the substation fire remains unknown, Miliband confirmed ongoing communication with the National Grid to investigate further.
“There is a third backup, essentially serving as a second backup option, that they are currently considering utilizing to restore power. While there are backup mechanisms in place, the magnitude of the fire seems to have impacted these mechanisms,” he explained. “In situations like this, it is crucial for us to investigate the root cause and identify any lessons that could benefit our infrastructure.”
A significant power outage occurred at Heathrow Airport in London on March 21, 2025, due to a fire at the North Hyde electricity substation in Hayes. This outage resulted in the cancellation of all flights in and out of the airport until midnight, affecting approximately 200,000 passengers. Some nearby homes were also evacuated. The London Fire Brigade is collaborating with the Metropolitan Police Service to determine the cause of the fire.
As the morning progresses, disruptions are expected to continue, and individuals are advised to avoid the area when possible, as stated by Pat Goulbourne, Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade. Aviation expert John Strickland emphasized on a BBC show that safety measures for passengers are a priority during emergencies. However, the impact of a power outage at an airport extends to various airport systems and services utilized by multiple stakeholders.
British Airways is urging customers to reach out via social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) to rebook their flights. Passengers are also directed to the airline’s flight status page for updates on service resumption. A passenger in the Maldives shared frustrations about the lack of information provided amidst delays and expressed gratitude for meal vouchers issued as an apology for the inconvenience.
Stranded passengers navigating dark stairwells due to lift malfunctions at Heathrow Terminal 4 are a poignant image of the disruptions caused by the fire. Tori Dunzello recounted her experience of a flight detour to Canada from Newark Airport in the U.S. after learning about the Heathrow fire mid-flight.
According to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24, over 100 planes destined for Heathrow were airborne at the time of the closure announcement.
