A major power outage caused by a substation fire has forced London's Heathrow Airport to close completely on March 21, 2025, triggering widespread travel disruption expected to last through the weekend.

The fire broke out late Thursday at North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, requiring over 70 firefighters to respond and leading to the evacuation of 150 people. The blaze continues to affect the transformer as of Friday morning.

Impact Overview:

• All terminals closed until midnight
• 1,300+ flights canceled or diverted
• 145,000 passengers affected
• Major international flights rerouted
• Global disruptions expected through next week

Aviation experts are criticizing Heathrow's lack of backup power infrastructure, highlighting concerns about the airport's reliance on a single substation.

Traveler Guidelines:

• Avoid traveling to Heathrow Airport
• Contact airlines directly for rebooking
• Alternative airports being used include Gatwick, Manchester, and Amsterdam Schiphol
• Some flights redirected to major US airports (JFK, O'Hare, Dulles)

While power is being restored to surrounding areas, airport operations remain suspended. Officials describe this as a "prolonged emergency," with disruptions expected to affect global air travel for several days.

Passengers with weekend travel plans should regularly check flight status and monitor airline communications for updates.

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