Overview

• On March 21, 2025, a fire at the North Hyde substation caused a power outage that shut down Heathrow Airport for nearly 18 hours.
• The outage disrupted over 270,000 passenger journeys, with airlines raising concerns about Heathrow's crisis response and operational decisions.
• Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye will testify before the Transport Select Committee, addressing why alternative power sources were not utilized sooner and the airport's reliance on a single power source.
• New reports indicate Heathrow was warned of power supply risks days before the outage, including theft incidents that previously disrupted runway operations.
• Investigations into the incident are ongoing, including a government-ordered review by the National Energy System Operator and an internal review led by Ruth Kelly, with findings expected within six weeks.