Heathrow Airport shuts down following major power outage due to substation fire

London’s Heathrow Airport has been forced to shut down all operations until 11:59 PM on 21 March following a massive power outage triggered by a fire at an electrical substation in the western part of the city. The incident has affected more than 16,000 homes and caused widespread travel disruption.

The power supply failure has prompted airport authorities to cancel flights, divert aircraft, and issue an advisory urging passengers not to travel to the airport. In a statement, Heathrow Airport said,
“Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March.”

Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.

To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.

Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport… pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd

— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025

India’s largest carrier, Air India, has confirmed that its services to and from London Heathrow have been severely disrupted. In a statement issued Friday, the airline said:

Flight AI129 from Mumbai to London Heathrow was returning to Mumbai,
Flight AI161 from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt,
All remaining flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 of this morning, have been cancelled for 21 March.
The airline added that flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected and that updates on the resumption of operations will be shared as soon as more information is available.

On social media platform X, Heathrow reiterated its advisory:
“Passengers are advised not to travel and should contact their respective airlines for further details.”

The Scottish and Southern Electricity Network, which serves nearly four million homes across central and southern England and parts of Scotland, confirmed the fire broke out at the North Hyde substation, with emergency services on the scene.

As one of the world’s busiest international airports, Heathrow handles approximately 1,300 flights daily. In 2023, it saw a record 83.9 million passengers pass through its terminals.

Airport authorities have warned that significant disruption is expected in the coming days as restoration and safety measures continue.