Particle.news
Download on the App Store
220 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Heathrow Airport Reopens After Substation Fire Halts Operations for 18 Hours

The fire caused widespread global travel disruption, canceling over 1,350 flights and affecting 200,000 passengers, with ongoing recovery efforts expected to take days.

This photo provided by London Fire Brigade, shows a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caught fire Thursday night and lead to a closure of Heathrow Airport in London, Friday.
A plane is prepared whilst another airplane approaches landing at Heathrow Airport after a fire at an electrical substation shuttered Europe's busiest air travel hub in London, Friday, March 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Image
Image

Overview

  • A fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport caused a power outage, shutting the airport for nearly 18 hours on March 21, 2025.
  • The incident led to the cancellation or diversion of over 1,350 flights, stranding approximately 200,000 passengers worldwide.
  • Operations resumed late on March 21, with Heathrow planning a full schedule on March 22, though disruptions are expected to persist for several days.
  • Authorities ruled out foul play, with investigations focusing on the electrical distribution equipment at the substation in Hayes, West London.
  • The fire highlighted vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, sparking calls for improved resilience to prevent future disruptions of this scale.