Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest airport, is facing major disruptions following a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The incident has forced the airport’s closure and affected flight schedules worldwide.
Fire Details
According to statements from Heathrow, the fire ignited at a substation, resulting in widespread power loss. Emergency services, including approximately 70 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade, responded promptly to the scene.
Flight Disruptions
- Heathrow will remain closed until at least 23:59 hours on 21 March 2024.
- Passengers are advised against traveling to the airport.
- FlightRadar24 reported that over 120 incoming flights were rerouted to other airports.
- British Airways alone had 341 flights scheduled to land on the affected day.
Global Impact
With so much traffic redirected, the effects extend far beyond Heathrow. Airlines worldwide now face the challenge of repositioning planes and managing passenger backlogs. Experts suggest this disruption may lead to cancellations and delays in various regions.
Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt noted, “It’s going to be a chaotic couple of days” as airlines scramble to maintain their operations amidst the upheaval.
Not the First Outage
This incident marks another issue for Heathrow, which experienced outages due to previous incidents in the past year, including an automated gate failure and an air traffic control problem.