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London’s Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the UK, has been forced to close until at least midnight following a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation.
The fire, which broke out earlier today, has disrupted power across the airport, leaving officials with no choice but to halt operations. Flights already in the air and scheduled to land at Heathrow are being diverted to other airports, including Gatwick and even as far as Paris. Departing flights have been canceled.
Airport officials say they do not yet know when power will be fully restored, but safety remains their top priority. "We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until operations resume," Heathrow said in a statement.
British Airways, one of the airport’s largest carriers, has confirmed that all its Heathrow-bound flights will be rerouted for the rest of the day, with no departures from the airport until further notice.
More than 1,300 flights are expected to be affected, creating widespread disruption for travelers. Video footage of the fire has been circulating on social media, showing thick smoke rising from the West London substation.
Passengers are urged to check with their airlines before heading to the airport. Heathrow has promised updates as the situation develops.
BREAKING: Heathrow Airport says it will be closed all day due to significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) March 21, 2025
“We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances” pic.twitter.com/jeqEqb8BX6
*With information from UkAviation.news
