Photo Credit: BBC
London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest international hub, has been forced to close completely today following a major fire at a nearby electrical substation. The unprecedented closure is causing massive disruption to travelers across the globe, with more than 1,350 flights affected and thousands of passengers stranded.
If you have travel booked to London today, or in the next few days, you can expect disruption, unfortunately.
What Happened
The London Fire Brigade received the first reports of a fire at the North Hyde Electricity Substation in Hayes, west London at 23:23 GMT on Thursday night. The brigade deployed 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters to battle the blaze, which involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil.
As of early Friday morning, the fire has been brought “under control” according to the London Fire Brigade, but is still burning. Officials report that about 10% of the transformer remains alight. Emergency services are expected to remain on the scene throughout the day to assist the National Grid in assessing the situation.
Current Situation at Heathrow
The electrical substation fire has resulted in a complete power outage at Heathrow Airport, with Terminals 2 and 4 specifically mentioned as having no power. This has prompted airport authorities to take the extraordinary step of closing the entire airport for the day. According to travel journalist Simon Calder, this marks the first complete shutdown of Heathrow since 2010, when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in Iceland disrupted European air travel.
Heathrow officials are warning that disruption could last for days as they work to restore operations. Passengers are being strongly advised not to travel to the airport today, with British Airways urging customers to avoid the airport “until further notice.”
Wider Impact
The implications of this shutdown extend far beyond Heathrow itself:
- Over 1,350 flights to and from the airport are expected to be canceled today
- Flights already en route to Heathrow when the disruption began have been diverted to airports across Europe and beyond, including Brussels, Manchester, Dublin, Iceland, and even Canada
- Approximately 4,900 homes in the surrounding area remain without power
- Local residents from nearly 180 properties have been evacuated, with many uncertain when they will be able to return home
- Six schools in Hayes have been closed for the day
- Train services including the Heathrow Express and parts of the Elizabeth Line have been suspended
Investigation Underway
In a significant development, the BBC reports that counter-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police will be involved in the investigation into the fire. Sources describe this as a “precautionary measure” and a “belt and braces” approach, rather than an indication of any direct evidence of sabotage.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has described the incident as an “unprecedented event” in comments to the BBC. He noted that the fire appears to have knocked out both the substation and a backup generator, raising questions about the resilience of critical infrastructure.
What To Do If You’re Affected
If your travel plans have been disrupted by this incident, here’s what you need to know:
- Do not travel to Heathrow Airport today
- Contact your airline directly for information about rebooking or refunds (because of European and British regulations, you are entitled to compensation if your flight is disrupted – yes, even if you’re American).
- Remember that airlines have a duty to get you to your destination, even during extraordinary circumstances
- For additional losses such as accommodation, you may need to contact your credit card provider or travel insurance
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. If you’ve been affected by the Heathrow closure, we invite you to share your experience in the comments below.