Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the United Kingdom, has been forced to shut down for the entire day on Friday, March 21, 2025, due to a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The closure, which is expected to lead to substantial travel disruptions, has caused panic among passengers and is likely to affect thousands of travellers. Airport authorities have urged passengers to avoid traveling until the situation is fully resolved.
Heathrow, which handles approximately 1,300 flights every day and saw 83.9 million passengers pass through its terminals last year, announced that it would remain closed until at least 11:59 PM on Friday. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025,” a spokesperson for the airport stated. The spokesperson added that while emergency services are responding to the incident, they could not yet confirm when power would be reliably restored to the airport.
The fire, which broke out at an electrical substation in Hayes, a district in west London, is believed to be the cause of the power outage affecting Heathrow. Emergency services, including ten fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters, were dispatched to the scene in the early hours of Friday. As of the latest reports, half of a transformer at the substation was still on fire, with large flames and thick smoke visible from the site. London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews are working tirelessly to bring the blaze under control, but the situation remains critical, with no clear indication of when the fire will be fully extinguished.
The power failure at Heathrow is causing major disruptions, not just at the airport, but also in the surrounding areas. The airport has apologized for the inconvenience and urged travelers to contact their airlines for further information on their flights. “We know this will be disappointing for passengers, and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation,” the Heathrow spokesperson added.
According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, at least 1,351 flights scheduled to arrive or depart from Heathrow on Friday will be affected by the closure. In the early hours of the morning, about 120 aircraft were already in the air when the power outage struck. The impact of this disruption is likely to ripple through the global aviation system, with thousands of passengers left stranded and many flights rescheduled or cancelled.
The incident also affects not just passengers but airport staff and service providers. With the airport shut down, many workers have been unable to report for duty, further adding to the operational challenges faced by the airport management.
The fire at the substation in Hayes was first reported at 11:23 PM on Thursday, March 20, 2025, and it quickly escalated, with flames reaching high into the night sky. Video footage shared on social media showed towering flames and thick black smoke, which were visible from several miles away. As of 4:08 AM, half of the transformer within the substation was still ablaze, according to the London Fire Brigade. Firefighters continued to battle the fire through the night, working in challenging conditions, including strong winds and hazardous smoke.
A 200-meter cordon has been set up around the fire site as a safety measure, and local residents have been warned to keep their windows and doors closed due to the heavy smoke. Over 16,300 homes in the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas are currently without power, with energy supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks reporting large-scale outages.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas,” the company posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that efforts are underway to restore power as quickly as possible. However, with the ongoing fire, it remains unclear when power will be fully restored to the affected areas.
The fire has not only affected the airport but also caused significant disruption to the local community. Emergency responders evacuated around 150 people from nearby properties as a precaution, though no serious injuries have been reported. The fire’s impact on local power supplies is expected to continue throughout the day, as crews work to contain the fire and assess the damage to the substation.
LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulborne said, “This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.” He added that the incident is expected to be prolonged, with firefighting teams remaining on site throughout the night.
Local authorities are advising people to avoid the area around Hayes, where the substation is located, due to the fire and the ongoing emergency response. The London Fire Brigade has received nearly 200 calls about the blaze, reflecting the severity of the incident and the widespread concern it has caused.
Heathrow Airport has advised all passengers to refrain from traveling to the airport on Friday, March 21, as the situation continues to develop. Those with flights scheduled for Friday are encouraged to contact their airlines for updates on rescheduling or cancellations. Airlines will likely provide more information about how they plan to manage the backlog of flights, but passengers should be prepared for delays and significant disruptions in the coming days.
The airport has assured passengers that it is doing everything possible to resolve the issue and return to normal operations as quickly as possible. However, given the extent of the damage to the power supply, it could take time before full services are restored. Travelers are urged to keep checking their flight status and stay in touch with their airlines for the latest information.
As emergency crews continue to battle the fire and restore power, the incident at Heathrow serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to unexpected events. While the cause of the fire remains unclear, authorities are likely to investigate whether there were any failings in the maintenance or safety protocols at the substation.
In the meantime, passengers, airlines, and the broader aviation community are left to cope with the aftermath of this significant disruption. The UK’s busiest airport faces a challenging day ahead as it works to recover from what is one of the most significant disruptions in recent memory. The full impact on global travel will likely unfold over the next few days as airlines and passengers continue to navigate the fallout from the closure.
For now, Heathrow remains closed, and the public is urged to stay clear of the area while authorities manage the ongoing crisis.
