LONDON — A fire-related power failure has forced London’s Heathrow Airport, a major European travel hub, to remain closed all day Friday, impacting travel plans for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Flight tracking data indicated several flights were rerouted to Gatwick Airport, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and Shannon Airport in Ireland. FlightRadar 24 reported that at least 1,350 Heathrow flights have been affected, including some originating from U.S. cities, which have been canceled.
The airport stated, “To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we have no other option than to keep Heathrow closed” for the entire day. “We anticipate considerable disruption over the next few days, and passengers are advised not to come to the airport under any circumstances until it reopens.”
Heathrow is a leading airport for international travel. Earlier this year, it experienced its busiest January on record, handling over 6.3 million passengers, a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. January also marked the 11th consecutive month with an average of over 200,000 passengers daily, with transatlantic travel being a major contributing factor, according to the airport.
United Airlines reported that seven of its flights either returned to their departure points or were diverted to other airports, and all Friday flights to Heathrow have been canceled.
The FlightAware website listed further cancellations, including two from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport: one Delta Airlines flight and one American Airlines flight.
Heathrow’s statement indicated that updates on airport operations would be provided as soon as more information regarding power restoration becomes available.
National Rail has suspended all train services to and from the airport.
The London Fire Brigade reported that 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters responded to a fire within an electrical substation in west London late Thursday night.
The incident also caused power outages to thousands of homes, resulting in the evacuation of around 150 people.
Social media footage showed significant flames and heavy smoke emanating from the facility.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne stated, “The fire has led to a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimize disruption.”
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks posted on X that the power outage affected more than 16,300 homes.
Emergency services arrived on the scene at 11:23 p.m. Thursday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Goulbourne urged the public to take safety precautions and avoid the area while crews worked to extinguish the fire.
Heathrow typically begins flight operations at 6 a.m., following nighttime flying restrictions. The airport stated the closure would remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday.
Earlier in the year, the U.K. government approved the construction of a third runway at the airport to stimulate the economy and improve global connectivity.
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