UK: Flights resume at Heathrow after power outage sparks global travel disruptions
A sign warning to not go to the Heathrow International Airport is placed at Victoria Underground Station, after a fire at electrical substation wiped out power at the Heathrow International Airport, in London, Britain, March 21, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Flights at Britain’s Heathrow Airport resumed late on Friday following a massive fire that knocked out power, forcing the airport’s closure and stranding thousands of passengers.
The disruption at Europe’s busiest airport created widespread travel chaos, with many flights diverted or canceled.
Heathrow officials said teams worked relentlessly to restore operations after the fire, which broke out at a nearby substation on Thursday night, led to a complete shutdown.
With 1,351 flights scheduled to transport up to 291,000 passengers on Friday, the closure had far-reaching consequences. Planes were redirected to airports across Britain and Europe, while several long-haul flights returned to their departure points.
According to Heathrow, a limited number of flights operated on Friday, primarily to reposition aircraft. However, a full return to normal operations was expected by Saturday morning.
“Tomorrow morning, we expect to be back in full operation, to 100% operation as a normal day. What I’d like to do is to apologise to the many people who have had their travel affected … we are very sorry about all the inconvenience,” Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye stated.
Authorities confirmed that while the incident was not considered suspicious, investigations remained ongoing. London Fire Brigade indicated that inquiries would focus on electrical distribution equipment.
The closure sparked frustration among airlines, raising concerns over infrastructure reliability. The aviation industry now faces potential financial losses in the tens of millions.
