Heathrow Airport in London faced significant disruptions on March 22, 2025, after a fire at an electrical substation halted operations. The incident led to the cancellation or diversion of over 1,000 flights, impacting one of Europe’s busiest airports.
- Heathrow Airport operations disrupted by fire
- Over 1,000 flights canceled or diverted
- Chief executive calls disruption "unprecedented"
- Backup transformer insufficient for power needs
- Investigation led by counterterrorism officials
- Questions raised about airport's electrical resilience
Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, reported that the airport experienced a power loss comparable to that of a midsize city. Although some flights resumed later in the day, Woldbye indicated that full operations were expected to return by Saturday.
The fire at Heathrow Airport’s electrical substation occurred late Thursday night, leading to widespread operational chaos. The Metropolitan Police stated they are not treating the incident as suspicious, though a counterterrorism investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
Key details surrounding the incident include:
- Over 1,000 flights were canceled or diverted due to the outage.
- Heathrow Airport’s operations were significantly impacted, losing power equivalent to that of a midsize city.
- Some flights resumed late Friday, with expectations for full operations by Saturday.
Woldbye emphasized the need for improved resilience, questioning the airport’s reliance on a single electrical substation. The financial implications of the outage have yet to be assessed, but the disruption raises concerns about the airport’s infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
In summary, the fire at Heathrow Airport’s electrical substation caused significant flight cancellations and operational challenges. While some flights have resumed, full service is anticipated to return by Saturday, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure at the airport.
