London's Heathrow airport shuts down for a day: Fire at substation leads to cancelled flights, power outages - what we know so far

Heathrow Airport announced plans to resume some flights on Friday following a major fire at an electrical substation that caused a power outage at Europe’s busiest airport, disrupting travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. The airport stated it would start flying out passengers who had been diverted to other European airports and work to reposition aircraft. Full operations are expected to resume by Saturday.
Power outage blamed on substation fire
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the fire as an unprecedented event, which not only knocked out Heathrow’s primary power supply but also took down its backup generator. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that flames erupted from a transformer at an electrical substation about two miles from the airport late Thursday night, affecting more than 16,300 homes and businesses in the area.
Also read: Heathrow Airport power outage: Air India cancels all flights to London
Firefighters battled the blaze for over seven hours, finally bringing it under control by early Friday morning. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne praised the efforts of emergency teams, saying they successfully contained the fire and prevented further damage.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer thanked emergency responders and acknowledged the widespread distress caused by the airport closure.
“I know the situation at Heathrow is causing distress and disruption, especially for those travelling or without power in their homes. I’m receiving regular updates and I’m in close contact with partners on the ground,” he posted on X.

The disruption has drawn comparisons to the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which shut down much of European airspace for five days, grounding millions of travellers.

Several schools in Hayes have been forced to close following the fire, Hillingdon Council has confirmed.
The schools affected include:


The London Fire Brigade stated that the fire started in a transformer within the substation, a critical part of the national grid responsible for regulating electricity distribution. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Beyond school closures, the impact of the substation fire has extended to Heathrow Airport, leading to widespread disruption. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or diverted, affecting an estimated 145,000 passengers. The financial fallout for airlines could reach hundreds of millions of pounds, according to aviation analysts.
Heathrow, the world’s fourth-busiest airport in 2023, relies on precise coordination of aircraft and crews. The disruption is expected to last for days, with airlines scrambling to reposition planes and staff. British Airways has already begun redirecting inbound flights, urging passengers to check for updates before travelling.
Experts warn that the closure will have ripple effects on businesses dependent on the airport, including cargo firms, retailers, and local communities. With shares of major airlines falling, the financial strain is likely to persist as Heathrow works to restore normal operations.