Heathrow Airport Closure Disrupts Global Air Traffic After Substation Fire

A fire at the Hayes electrical substation caused a power outage, halting operations at Europe's busiest airport and impacting 200,000 passengers worldwide.

A fire at the Hayes electrical substation in West London caused a power outage, forcing Heathrow Airport to close until at least midnight on March 21, 2025.
The closure disrupted over 1,300 scheduled flights, with more than 120 planes diverted to other UK and European airports, and many flights canceled.
Approximately 200,000 passengers were affected, and disruptions to global air traffic are expected to last several days as operations gradually resume.
Authorities, including counter-terrorism police, are investigating the incident, with no evidence of intentional sabotage reported so far.
The financial impact of the incident is estimated to exceed £50 million, raising concerns about Heathrow's infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness.