Fire at Substation Forces Day-Long Closure of Heathrow Airport

The fire caused a major power outage, disrupting over 1,300 flights and impacting global air travel as investigations into the incident continue.

A fire at a substation in Hayes led to a significant power outage, forcing the closure of London Heathrow Airport until 23:59 local time on March 21, 2025.
More than 1,300 flights have been canceled or diverted, with global air travel disruptions expected to persist in the coming days.
The fire, which left approximately 100,000 households temporarily without power, has been contained, but its cause remains under investigation.
Around 150 people were evacuated from nearby areas as a precaution during the emergency response involving 70 firefighters.
Airports across Europe, including Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, have reported flight cancellations and diversions due to Heathrow's closure.