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London: In response to the Heathrow shutdown following a major power outage caused by a large fire near the airport, Air India on Friday, announced several flight diversions and cancellations.
“Our operations to and from London Heathrow (LHR) have been disrupted following the temporary suspension of operations at the airport until 23h59 London time of 21 March, after a significant power outage,” the airline said in a statement. As a result, London Heathrow-bound AI129 from Mumbai is returning to Mumbai. AI161 from Delhi is diverting to Frankfurt," it stated.
“All our remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 of this morning, have been cancelled for 21 March.We will update about resumption of operations as soon as we have more information. Flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected,” the airline added.
Fire causes widespread power outage
Footage posted on social media showed massive flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the affected facility.
The closure was confirmed by airport officials, who noted that the fire originated at an electrical substation supplying power to Heathrow. “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on March 21,” the airport stated on X.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks reported that the power outage impacted over 16,300 homes. Emergency services were called to the scene at 11:23 pm. on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities have urged people to take safety precautions and avoid the area while fire crews continue their work to extinguish the blaze.
Heathrow Airport is one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs. Earlier this year, the UK government approved the construction of a third runway at the airport to enhance economic growth and global connectivity.
(With agency inputs)
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