Heathrow Airport in London experiences temporary closure following a fire-induced power outage
Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom has announced a temporary closure until midnight on Friday following a power outage. This unexpected disruption has resulted in significant upheaval for tens of thousands of travelers.
London’s primary airport, recognized as Europe’s busiest transport hub, announced on Friday that it experienced a “significant” power outage resulting from a fire at an electrical substation that provides power to the airport.
Heathrow Airport has announced via a post on the X platform that it will remain closed until 11:59 PM on March 21 to ensure the safety and well-being of both passengers and staff.
“Travelers are strongly encouraged to refrain from heading to the airport and are urged to reach out to their respective airlines for additional details. We express our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.”
According to Al Jazeera, FlightRadar24, a prominent flight tracking service, has reported that the shutdown is expected to disrupt a minimum of 1,351 flights.
According to data provided by FlightRadar24, a total of 120 aircraft were airborne and poised for diversion to alternative airports or a return to their departure points at the time the announcement was made.
Heathrow Airport consistently stands as one of the leading global aviation hubs, frequently ranking among the top five busiest airports internationally.
The airport facilitates travel to over 200 destinations across approximately 90 countries and territories, and last year it recorded a historic high, accommodating almost 84 million passengers.
