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Heathrow Airport Resumes Limited Flights After Fire Causes Day-Long Shutdown

A fire at a nearby electrical substation disrupted over 1,350 flights and impacted 200,000 passengers, with full operations expected to restart Saturday.

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.
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Overview

  • A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, caused a major power outage at Heathrow Airport, halting operations for most of Friday, March 21, 2025.
  • The incident disrupted more than 1,350 flights and affected over 200,000 passengers globally, with ripple effects expected to last several days.
  • Authorities confirmed that the fire damaged both the main and backup power systems at Heathrow, exposing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.
  • Emergency crews, including 70 firefighters, brought the blaze under control after seven hours; 150 people were evacuated from nearby properties as a precaution.
  • Limited flights resumed late Friday evening, with Heathrow planning to return to full operations on Saturday, though delays and cancellations are likely to persist.