Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, has been forced to close its doors on Friday following a significant power outage. The disruption was triggered by a large fire at a nearby electrical substation, causing widespread chaos across the airport. This unforeseen incident has left the airport without electricity, prompting officials to announce an immediate closure that will extend until at least 11:59 p.m. local time.
The fire at the electrical substation not only led to the power outage but also left airport authorities uncertain about when power may be reliably restored. Fire crews are actively responding to the situation, but there remains no clarity on the timeline for restoration. Passengers and airlines have been advised not to travel to Heathrow Airport until further notice.
"Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored," stated Heathrow Airport officials.
The closure of Britain's Heathrow Airport is expected to cause significant disruption, affecting thousands of passengers and flights. The airport's operations have come to a halt as officials work tirelessly to manage the situation and keep everyone informed. With no power, many services within the airport have been disrupted, leading to confusion and frustration among travelers.
"We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," warned Heathrow Airport representatives.
This unexpected incident underscores the vulnerability of infrastructure to external events such as fires and highlights the challenges faced by airport authorities in maintaining seamless operations. It is yet unclear how long it will take for normalcy to return at Heathrow Airport, as efforts continue to address the aftermath of the substation fire.