Huge fire closes London’s Heathrow Airport, more than 1,000 flights affected

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Huge fire closes London’s Heathrow Airport, more than 1,000 flights affected | Secret Flying

Major outage forces airport to suspend operations.

 

London’s Heathrow Airport has been forced to cease operations until 23:59 on 21 March following a severe power outage. The disruption was triggered by a fire at an electrical substation in close proximity to the airport, which provides power to the facility.

 

In a statement posted on X, Heathrow officials confirmed the suspension of flights, stressing that passenger and staff safety remains the top priority. Travellers have been strongly advised not to attempt to reach the airport while the situation is being managed.

 

 

Emergency services, including fire crews, are currently tackling the incident, but there is no clear timeline for when normal operations can resume. A Heathrow spokesperson informed Reuters via email that the impact of the outage is expected to cause widespread disruptions over the coming days.

 

Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management organisation, announced that all incoming flights to Heathrow have been suspended due to the power failure. Contingency measures have been put in place, with flights being rerouted to alternative airports.

 

Live tracking data from FlightRadar24 reveals that multiple flights have already been diverted. A Qantas Airways flight en route from Perth was redirected to Paris, while a United Airlines flight from New York was sent to Shannon, Ireland.

 

Many British Airways flights have been diverted to Barcelona and Madrid.

 

Further disruptions are anticipated as airlines and passengers attempt to reorganise their travel plans. Heathrow, which ranks as the second-busiest airport in the world, typically handles a vast volume of air traffic daily, making the current closure a significant challenge for global travel logistics.

 

Passengers due to travel via Heathrow in the coming days are urged to check with their airlines for updates and alternative arrangements. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and will provide further information as it becomes available.