Heathrow Airport Resumes Operations After Fire Causes Major Disruptions

London Heathrow Airport has returned to full operation following a massive fire at an electrical substation that caused widespread flight cancellations and disruptions on Friday, March 21.

The fire, which broke out at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, led to a major power outage at Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport. Emergency services deployed ten fire engines and 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, which involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil. While the fire was brought under control after seven hours, residual hotspots persisted for over a day.

As a result, Heathrow was forced to suspend all flight operations on Friday, affecting around 300,000 passengers worldwide. More than 1,300 flights were either canceled or diverted to alternative airports, causing significant travel disruptions.

By Saturday, March 22, the airport gradually resumed flight operations. British Airways reported that 90% of its flights were operational by Saturday, aiming for a near-full schedule on Sunday. Virgin Atlantic also worked to stabilize its services and planned to restore full operations by Sunday.

As of Sunday, March 23, Heathrow Airport is fully operational. However, passengers are advised to check directly with airlines before traveling, as some residual delays and cancellations may still occur. Airlines have offered flexible rebooking options and refunds for affected travelers.

In response to the incident, UK authorities have launched an investigation into the country’s energy resilience. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has directed the National Energy System Operator to assess the fire’s impact on critical infrastructure, with initial findings expected within six weeks.

The investigation aims to prevent future incidents and strengthen the resilience of key transportation hubs like Heathrow Airport.