Flights at Heathrow Airport have gradually resumed after an 18-hour disruption caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation, which led to a widespread power outage.
Authorities have found no signs of foul play, and the London Fire Brigade stated that investigations would focus on the substation’s electrical distribution system.
Britain’s National Grid managed to restore power by rerouting electricity around the affected substation, allowing operations to restart on a temporary basis.
As one of the world’s busiest airports, Heathrow faced severe disruptions, with the shutdown forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule flights and reposition their aircraft and crews.
The impact is expected to linger for several days as operations stabilize.
On Friday afternoon, Heathrow announced that limited flights had resumed, with hopes of restoring full operations by Saturday.
“Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a swift recovery,” the airport posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We’re now safely able to restart flights, prioritizing repatriation and aircraft relocation.”
Passengers were urged to avoid the airport unless specifically advised by their airlines. Heathrow assured travelers that their top priority remained safety, apologizing for the inconvenience caused.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that the substation fire, which broke out late Thursday night, had been brought under control. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated he was receiving regular updates and coordinating with relevant authorities.
Deputy Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said the brigade was working with police to determine the fire’s cause. While there was no immediate evidence of criminal activity, counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the power failure "catastrophic," highlighting concerns over Heathrow’s reliance on a single power source. Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), criticized the airport's infrastructure planning, questioning why a major global hub lacked sufficient backup power.
The disruption affected at least 1,350 flights worldwide, according to FlightRadar24, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Source: online
BDST: 1153 HRS, MAR 22, 2025
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