Fri Mar 21 06:20:01 UTC 2025: ## Heathrow Airport Shuts Down After Major Power Outage Caused by Substation Fire
**London, March 21, 2025** – London Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, was forced to shut down completely until midnight on March 21st following a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The incident, which occurred at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, west London, affected at least 1,351 inbound and outbound flights and left over 16,000 homes without electricity.
The London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze with 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters. A 200-meter safety cordon was established, and local residents were advised to remain indoors and close their doors and windows due to smoke. Over 150 people were evacuated from the area.
Heathrow Airport announced the closure via X (formerly Twitter), advising passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airlines for updates. An airport spokesperson told the BBC that while fire crews were working to extinguish the blaze, the time of power restoration remained uncertain. Many flights were diverted, and airport authorities anticipate significant disruption in the coming days. Airlines, including Air India, cancelled all flights to and from Heathrow for the day.
The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the fire at the North Hyde substation and stated that the safety of residents and emergency personnel was their top priority. Videos of the fire, showing a large blaze and plume of smoke, circulated on social media.
The closure caused widespread disruption and sparked criticism online, with some questioning the lack of backup power systems at such a critical infrastructure site. Heathrow handled a record 84 million passengers in 2024, highlighting the impact of this unprecedented shutdown. The airport remains under investigation, and the full extent of the damage and cost remains to be assessed.
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