London’s Heathrow Airport has gone dark.
Due to a fire that broke out at a power plant close to the United Kingdom’s busiest airport, they have temporarily shut down their facilities and runways until no later than March 22. This situation has disrupted more than 1,000 flights over the weekend and impacted approximately 200,000 passengers scheduled to travel to or from Heathrow Airport during this period.
The fire that broke out at the Hayes electrical substation, close to Heathrow Airport around 8:23 p.m. GMT, has largely been brought under control during the early morning hours of London time. Yet, power restoration efforts are ongoing in Heathrow and surrounding areas, according to NBC News. (It’s reported that approximately 5,000 customers have been impacted by the fire as estimated by National Grid UK.)
Regarding the short-term effects on air travel due to Heathrow’s closure, aviation expert John Strickland stated to the British Press Association News agency today that it was similar to a “localized repercussion of 9/11 events.
In those instances, especially on 9/11, it occurred so suddenly that U.S. airspace was closed, causing them to turn back planes and halt others,” he explained. “Given how congested Heathrow Airport usually is, there’s no real maneuvering space for escaping situations like these.
Experts are working to figure out what triggered the huge explosion that caused the fire.
A representative from the police said they’re collaborating with the London Fire Department to determine the reason behind a fire that’s still being investigated by authorities. At present, there’s no sign of suspicious activity, but they’re keeping an open perspective for now.
Due to the large size of the fires and the number of people involved, the police have indicated that they are treating this investigation with great urgency.
The location of the incident near a vital national infrastructure site, and its significant effects on this infrastructure, have prompted the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command to take charge of the investigation,” the spokesperson explained. “This is because they possess specialized resources and abilities that can accelerate the probe and help reduce disruptions, as well as pinpoint the cause more effectively.
Due to the closure of an airport that caters to more than 84 million travelers annually, numerous passengers have ended up stranded in London.
Kazumi Nakamura, enjoying her holiday in the city together with her daughter Mana, shared with NBC News that she was somewhat disappointed, yet overall, she was coping well.
“We’re not in a rush,” the 50-year-old said. “But we want to go home.”
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2025-03-21 16:17