Heathrow Airport closes all day over power outage

Heathrow Airport will be closed throughout Friday due to a major fire at a power substation that supplies electricity to the airport. Heathrow Airport stated in a statement that the fire has caused the airport to experience a "significant power outage." The airport authorities are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

The statement added: "For the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow Airport will remain closed until 23:59 on March 21st. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for any inconvenience caused." The airport is prioritizing the safety of everyone involved during this disruption.

The fire at the substation, located in the Hayes area of West London, has left thousands of homes without power and resulted in the evacuation of approximately 150 people from surrounding properties. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) stated that ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire. As a precaution, a 200-meter cordon has been set up, and local residents have been advised to close their doors and windows due to the "large amount of smoke" at the scene.

Energy supplier Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said on X that more than 16,300 homes had lost power due to the large-scale outage caused by the fire. The company added: "We are aware of a widespread power outage affecting many of our customers in Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas." The London Fire Brigade said they had received nearly 200 calls about the fire, which broke out late on Thursday night.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 23:23. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "This is a high-profile and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible. This will be an ongoing incident, and crews will be on scene throughout the night. Disruption is expected to increase as we move into the morning, and we urge people to avoid the area where possible."