London, England – Heathrow Airport, the United Kingdom’s busiest airport, will be closed all day on Friday due to a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The closure has led to major disruptions and has left passengers stranded, unable to travel until the situation is resolved.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport stated that the closure is necessary to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, with no flights expected to operate until midnight on Friday. The airport has apologized for the inconvenience and advised travelers to contact their airlines for further information on flight statuses.
The power outage at the substation in Hayes, West London, not only affected Heathrow Airport but also caused thousands of homes to lose power and led to the evacuation of around 150 people from nearby properties. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and emergency services have been working tirelessly to contain the blaze.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that over 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow will be impacted by the airport’s closure, affecting travelers from various airlines around the world. Passengers have been left scrambling to make alternate travel arrangements, with some flights being diverted to other airports.
Local residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the significant amount of smoke resulting from the fire. The London Fire Brigade has deployed ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, with a 200-meter cordon put in place as a precaution.
The closure of Heathrow Airport has led to chaos for travelers, with many facing the challenge of rebooking flights last minute through other European cities. The disruption is expected to continue into the coming days, and passengers are urged to avoid the area surrounding the affected substation as emergency services work to bring the situation under control.