Heathrow Airport shuts down following major power outage caused by substation fire 

The incident prompted authorities to prioritize safety, leading to the temporary closure of one of the world’s busiest airports.

Heathrow announced on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that it would remain closed until 23:59 on Friday, March 21, citing safety concerns.

Passengers have been advised to avoid the airport, contact their airlines for updates, and apologized to for the inconvenience.

The statement read: “Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.  

“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.  Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.” 

Providing further details, News.AZ International reported that fire crews were still addressing the situation. The report highlighted a statement from a Heathrow spokesperson to Reuters, noting that there was no clear timeline for restoring power, with passengers warned to expect significant disruptions in the coming days.

“Due to a significant power outage in the London Heathrow area, London Heathrow Airport will be closed until further notice,” the mail read in part.

It advised travelers to avoid the airport unless they had confirmed their flight status.

Heathrow was the world’s second-busiest international airport in 2024, behind Dubai, according to OAG.