London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, was forced to close for an entire day on Friday after a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a widespread power outage, severely disrupting global flight operations.
The London Fire Brigade dispatched 70 firefighters to combat the blaze in West London, which erupted just after 11 p.m. local time on Thursday. Flames and thick black smoke were visible from the power station located roughly three kilometers from the airport. Firefighters took approximately seven hours to bring the fire under control, leaving Heathrow in darkness and forcing extensive flight cancellations and diversions across Britain and Europe.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the crisis, stating that he was receiving updates and was in close contact with authorities. He also commended emergency responders for their efforts in managing the situation.
Flight Cancellations and Travel Chaos
The Heathrow shutdown had far-reaching consequences for international travelers. Major airlines, including Air Canada, were forced to reroute or cancel multiple flights. Six Air Canada flights already airborne had to return to their departure cities, while a seventh was canceled before takeoff. Additional flights from Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver to London were also scrapped.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) warned travelers at Pearson International Airport to check their flight statuses due to Heathrow’s closure. Montreal-Trudeau International Airport also confirmed that multiple flights were impacted.
British Airways, Heathrow’s largest carrier, had 341 flights scheduled on Friday, all of which were affected. Other airlines, including Air France and KLM, also canceled multiple flights.
Investigation and Infrastructure Concerns
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine what led to such a catastrophic failure. UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband confirmed that the blaze disrupted backup power systems and raised concerns about Heathrow’s infrastructure resilience. Experts estimate the financial impact of the closure could reach £20 million ($37 million CAD) per day.
Travel analysts warn that the disruption could have a domino effect on global air travel for days as airlines struggle to reposition aircraft and crews. Industry expert Henry Harteveldt described the situation as “chaotic,” predicting significant delays as airlines work to clear the backlog of stranded passengers.
Heathrow, which handled over 6.3 million passengers in January alone, has faced multiple operational challenges in recent years, including a 2023 air traffic system meltdown and electronic gate failures. This latest disruption underscores vulnerabilities in the airport’s critical infrastructure, sparking renewed calls for improved contingency planning.
Source: Swifteradio.com
