A massive fire at a nearby electricity substation has forced Heathrow Airport to shut down until midnight. As a result, the fire caused a major power outage, leading to flight disruptions and affecting homes and businesses.

The airport operator confirmed the power failure and, therefore, announced that Heathrow would remain closed until 23:59 GMT on Friday. Consequently, officials warned passengers not to travel to the airport until it reopens.

Firefighters Battle Blaze in Hayes

Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade reported a “significant” fire at a substation in Hayes, located in Hillingdon. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne called it a "major incident." Since the fire has disrupted power, firefighters are working in tough conditions to control it quickly.

Moreover, the fire has cut power to many homes and businesses. Thus, emergency teams are making efforts to minimize disruptions.

Flights Rerouted, Travelers Affected

As a result of the shutdown, several flights changed course. For instance, FlightRadar24 reported that a Qantas flight from Perth had to land in Paris instead. Likewise, a United Airlines flight from New York was diverted to Shannon, Ireland. Additionally, Heathrow officials warned of ongoing disruptions in the coming days.

Heathrow’s Global Importance

Notably, Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport, handling over 80 million passengers each year. Therefore, any closure here creates significant problems for travelers and airlines worldwide.

Air India Cancels Flights

Meanwhile, Air India alerted passengers about cancellations and diversions. Due to the outage, Flight AI129 from Mumbai returned mid-flight, while AI161 from Delhi landed in Frankfurt instead. Furthermore, the airline canceled all other Heathrow flights, including AI111 on March 21.

Nevertheless, Air India promised to provide updates as soon as possible. However, flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected.

For now, officials are assessing the situation. Hence, passengers should check for updates before traveling.