London’s Heathrow Airport has resumed full operations after an 18-hour closure caused by a fire at an electrical substation. The airport, one of the busiest in Europe, confirmed on Saturday, March 22, that it is “open and fully operational,” following major disruptions that affected thousands of passengers.
Operations Restored, But Disruptions Persist
The fire, which broke out near Heathrow on Friday, led to a power outage, forcing the airport to suspend flights. A British Airways jet was the first to land at Heathrow late Friday after the airport lifted the closure order. However, passengers are still facing delays and cancellations, with disruptions expected to continue for days, according to PA Media.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 reported that at least 1,350 flights were impacted, as airlines work to reschedule flights and reposition aircraft and crews.
Explosion, Fireball Witnessed in West London
Witnesses in west London described hearing a loud explosion before a massive fireball and thick plumes of smoke engulfed the electrical substation. The London Fire Brigade was deployed to tackle the blaze, and authorities confirmed that the fire caused widespread power outages, leaving thousands of homes without electricity and prompting the evacuation of over 100 people.
Investigation Underway
The Metropolitan Police and counter-terrorism officers launched an investigation into the incident but stated that they do not consider it suspicious. Authorities are focusing on the electrical distribution equipment as the likely cause. Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye explained that a back-up transformer failure led to a system shutdown as part of safety protocols. Power was eventually restored from two remaining substations to enable airport operations to resume.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she remains in close contact with key officials to ensure any necessary improvements to Heathrow’s infrastructure are implemented.
Busiest January on Record
The incident comes after Heathrow Airport reported its busiest January on record, with over 6.3 million passengers—a 5% increase from the previous year.
As the airport returns to normal, authorities advise passengers to check with their airlines for updates on delays and cancellations before heading to Heathrow.
Sources By Agencies
