Heathrow Airport Shuts Down Following Major Power Outage from Substation Fire

A blaze at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes has caused widespread power outages, grounding over 1,351 flights and impacting thousands of travelers and residents.

Heathrow Airport will remain closed until midnight on March 21, 2025, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a significant power outage.
The London Fire Brigade deployed 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to combat the blaze, which involved a transformer and remains under investigation.
Approximately 150 people were evacuated from nearby properties, with a 200-meter safety cordon established as a precaution against heavy smoke in the area.
The power outage has disrupted over 1,351 flights, with many diverted to alternate airports such as Gatwick, Paris, and Shannon, Ireland.
Authorities have warned of ongoing disruptions to global air travel and local power supplies, with no clarity yet on when operations will return to normal.