Heathrow Airport has been forced to close for the entire day following a major fire at a nearby electrical substation, triggering a widespread power outage and global travel disruption.

The closure, announced late on Thursday night, has impacted more than 1,300 flights, with passengers told not to travel to the airport under any circumstances. Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, is expected to experience significant disruption over the coming days, with ripple effects felt across the aviation industry worldwide.

The fire broke out at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes around 11.23pm on Thursday, causing a total loss of power to Terminal 2 and other parts of the airport, as well as blackouts across Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas, affecting more than 16,300 homes.

“Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation,” a Heathrow spokesperson confirmed. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March 2025.”

Global Travel Disruption

According to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow have been affected, with 120 flights already airborne when the closure was declared. Many flights have been diverted to Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and Shannon Airport in Ireland, while others have been cancelled outright.

Heathrow Airport, which handled over 83.9 million passengers in 2024, is a critical global hub, and the disruption is expected to affect tens of thousands of travellers.

“We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation,” the spokesperson added.

 Major Fire Response

The London Fire Brigade confirmed that 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze on Nestles Avenue in Hayes. Emergency services placed a 200-metre safety cordon around the substation and evacuated around 150 people from nearby properties.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said:

“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.”

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and crews are expected to remain on the scene throughout the night and into the weekend.

Power Outage Across West London

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) confirmed a large-scale outage impacting more than 16,300 properties. A National Grid spokesperson added:

“The fire has damaged critical equipment, and engineers are working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible.”

Local businesses and residents have been urged to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke, with London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police also deployed to assist at the scene.

Passenger Advice

• Do not travel to Heathrow Airport.
• Check with your airline for rebooking or diversion information.
• Monitor Heathrow’s website and social media channels for updates.
• Use alternative transport where possible.

This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. Authorities have warned that travel disruption could persist into the weekend, as airport operations slowly resume once power is restored.