Flights have resumed at London’s Heathrow Airport after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a significant power outage, leading to temporary closure and widespread disruptions.
The fire, which started late Thursday night, impacted airport operations, affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers. Heathrow officials confirmed that flight operations could restart, but they advised travelers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport.
“Our teams have worked tirelessly to restore operations,” Heathrow Airport said in a statement Friday. “We are now safely able to restart flights, prioritizing repatriation and relocation of aircraft.”
The fire broke out at a power substation supplying electricity to the airport, causing a “significant power outage.” Officials initially expected Heathrow to remain closed until midnight Friday.
“We expect significant disruptions over the coming days, and passengers should avoid traveling to the airport unless advised by their airline,” a Heathrow spokesperson said.
The London Fire Brigade responded with 70 firefighters and 10 fire trucks after receiving an emergency call at 11:23 p.m. local time. The fire was contained after seven hours, but it continued to smolder into Friday evening.
“This was a highly visible and significant incident,” said Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne. “Our firefighters worked under challenging conditions to bring the fire under control swiftly and prevent further spread.”
Authorities evacuated 29 people from nearby properties, and a 200-meter safety cordon was set up, displacing around 150 residents. Officials advised locals to keep windows and doors shut due to lingering smoke.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that counterterrorism officers were present at the scene, though there was no indication of foul play.
“Given the location and its impact on critical national infrastructure, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation,” police said in a statement.
As many as 290,000 passengers were affected by the closure on Friday, with further disruptions expected into Saturday. British Airways, the largest airline operating at Heathrow, urged customers not to travel to the airport until further notice.
Inbound flights were diverted to other UK airports as authorities worked to restore full operations.
