Heathrow Airport Remains Closed Following Major Power Outage; Thousands Affected
A fire at a nearby electrical substation caused Heathrow Airport's closure, severely disrupting air travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers worldwide.
Overview
Heathrow Airport remains closed until late Friday due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, disrupting air travel for over 200,000 passengers. The fire caused a significant power outage, resulting in the cancellation of at least 1,351 flights, with many aircraft being diverted and thousands of homes losing power. Emergency response teams, including 70 firefighters, addressed the blaze throughout the night, while investigations into the cause are underway, led by counterterrorism detectives. Officials expect recovery efforts to take several days, raising concerns about the resilience of vital national infrastructure.
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Analysis
- Heathrow Airport shut down Friday, March 21, due to a substation fire nearby. The incident impacted 100,000 passengers worldwide and canceled over 1,300 flights.
- Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, with emergency crews working to restore power and airport operations.
- Government officials collaborated with the National Grid to expedite recovery efforts.
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Business Insider·3M·FAQ
The cause of the fire at the electrical substation near Heathrow Airport is currently unknown and under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, with no indication of foul play at this stage.
At least 1,351 flights were affected by the closure of Heathrow Airport due to the power outage caused by the fire.
An estimated 200,000 to 291,000 passengers could be affected by the disruption at Heathrow Airport.
Recovery efforts are expected to take several days, with hopes to resume full operations as soon as possible.
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