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

The fire broke out at North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, near Heathrow, requiring over 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to respond. The blaze triggered a massive power failure affecting both airport operations and surrounding areas, with 150 people evacuated from the vicinity.

Key Impact:

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

Aviation experts have criticized Heathrow's lack of backup power infrastructure, highlighting concerns about the airport's resilience as the UK's primary travel hub.

Traveler Advisory:

• 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 U.S. airports (JFK, O'Hare, Dulles)

While power is gradually being restored to the surrounding area, airport officials warn of prolonged emergency conditions. Passengers with weekend travel plans should monitor their flight status and airline communications closely.

The incident's ripple effects on global air travel are expected to continue for several days, with aviation firm Cirium estimating it could take until Monday or longer to resolve all scheduling disruptions.

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