In a shocking turn of events, Heathrow Airport, London’s busiest international hub, has been forced to close for the entire day due to a significant power failure caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation. This incident has sent shockwaves through the travel plans of thousands of passengers, prompting urgent responses from authorities.

The airport released an official statement early Friday local time, informing the public that, “Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.” Their decision to cease operations until 23:59 on March 21, 2025, was made with safety as the primary concern for both passengers and airport staff.

Travelers are being advised to refrain from heading to the airport until further notice, as the situation could lead to “significant disruption over the coming days.” Videos circulating on social media have depicted the airport illuminated solely by emergency lighting, showcasing the gravity of the situation.

Heathrow Airport is expected to accommodate around 84.2 million passengers this year alone, and while it is one of six major airports servicing London, its closure is likely to have widespread repercussions in the airline industry. With flight tracking agency FlightRadar24 reporting that 120 aircraft were in the air and must now divert to alternate airports or return to their points of origin—the scale of disruption is monumental.

According to the London Fire Brigade, the blaze originated from a transformer in a substation located in Hayes, just north of the airport, resulting in evacuations of approximately 150 individuals from the area. Fire Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne described the incident as “highly visible and significant,” emphasizing that firefighters are battling the fire under challenging conditions to regain control as quickly as possible. Smoke from the blaze is reportedly affecting numerous homes and local businesses.

As of now, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities have been working tirelessly since they were alerted at 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday. Goulbourne cautioned that “this will be a prolonged incident,” which adds to concerns for travelers and local residents alike.

With disruptions expected to linger into Friday morning and the public strongly urged to avoid the area, this incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can change in the aviation sector. We will continue to monitor developments as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for updates on the situation at Heathrow Airport.