London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has been thrown into chaos after a massive fire at a nearby electricity substation caused a major power outage. The airport was forced into a 24-hour shutdown, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and disrupting over 1,300 flights.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night in Hayes, West London, led to an emergency response involving 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters. London Fire Brigade described the incident as “significant,” with flames and thick smoke visible for miles. The blaze not only crippled airport operations but also left over 16,000 homes and businesses without power.
Online footage showed deserted airport terminals, dark corridors, and shuttered shops, as emergency lighting was the only source of illumination. Passengers were urged to avoid traveling to Heathrow until further notice.
Global flight schedules have been thrown into disarray, with major airlines like United Airlines and Qantas forced to divert or cancel flights. Some aircraft already en route to Heathrow were redirected to alternative airports, including Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Heathrow, which handles over 80 million passengers annually, now faces one of its worst operational crises in years. As emergency crews battle to restore power, concerns mount over the ripple effect this disruption could have on global travel.
