Heathrow Airport partially reopened after a major fire broke out at an electrical substation late Thursday night. The fire caused a power outage and led to widespread flight cancellations. Over 1,350 flights were suspended, affecting around 200,000 passengers.
The airport resumed operations Friday evening. Officials expect it to fully return to normal by Saturday. However, airlines warned that the disruptions would last for several more days.
Power Restored, Backlog Remains
The London Fire Brigade sent over 70 firefighters to battle the blaze. The fire involved around 25,000 litres of burning oil and lasted into Friday morning. It caused power outages for 67,000 homes and led to the evacuation of more than 100 people. The power supply has now been restored, but disruptions at Heathrow were severe.
The airport began resuming operations by Friday evening. Heathrow prioritized passengers who had been diverted to other airports. The UK government temporarily lifted night-flight restrictions to help clear the backlog.
Investigation Underway, No Evidence of Foul Play
The Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation, with support from counter-terrorism officers. Authorities found no signs of suspicious activity in early CCTV footage. They believe the fire was accidental, not the result of sabotage or a terrorist attack. Detectives will continue to inspect substation equipment to rule out interference.
Two sources familiar with the case suggest the fire was accidental. Police have kept an open mind and continue to investigate all possible causes.
Government and Airline Officials Respond
The UK government acknowledged the “immense distress and disruption” for travelers. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there would be serious questions about how the situation unfolded. They also called for measures to prevent similar events in the future.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander defended Heathrow. She called the fire “unprecedented” and “completely beyond the airport’s control.” She noted that Heathrow quickly activated its resilience plan, including using diesel backup generators to keep essential systems running.
However, some industry experts criticized the response. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, called it a “clear planning failure.” He questioned why Heathrow relies on a single power source. David Omand, former head of GCHQ, said it was a “national embarrassment” that a power failure could shut down the UK’s main airport hub.
Heathrow Apologizes for Disruptions
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye apologized for the disruptions, acknowledging the incident as “major and severe.” British Airways resumed long-haul services by Friday evening. However, CEO Sean Doyle warned that the shutdown would impact customers for days.
Heathrow’s spokesperson said the airport would prioritize repatriating passengers rerouted to other airports. The Department for Transport temporarily lifted night-flight restrictions to help manage the backlog.
Investigation and Future Safeguards
As Heathrow begins recovering, authorities have promised a full investigation. They will review safety protocols to avoid similar disruptions in the future. Although the airport has resumed operations, delays are expected to continue as airlines work to clear the backlog.