Heathrow latest LIVE: Heathrow resumes some flights after day of travel chaos sparked by fire
Hey there! If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard about the fire at a substation near Heathrow Airport that caused a major disruption. Flights were grounded, passengers were stranded, and chaos ensued. But don’t worry—I’m here to break it all down for you in a friendly, conversational way. Let’s dive in!
What Happened?
On March 21, 2025, a fire broke out at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, near Heathrow Airport. The blaze caused a significant power outage, forcing Europe’s busiest airport to shut down for most of the day. Thousands of passengers were affected, and around 150 residents near the substation were evacuated.
Thankfully, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by 06:28 GMT, and power was gradually restored. By late afternoon, Heathrow announced it was “safely able to restart flights” and aims to operate at full capacity by Saturday.
What’s the Latest?
As of now, flights are slowly resuming, but there’s still some disruption. Here’s what you need to know:
- Flights are taking off and landing again, but delays are expected.
- British Airways says 85% of its Saturday flights will operate, but delays are likely for everyone.
- Heathrow is prioritizing passengers who were diverted to other European airports.
- The airport’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has apologized, calling the incident “as big as it gets for our airport.”
Was It a Terrorist Attack?
Good question! Counter-terrorism police are investigating, but the Met Police has said there’s no indication of foul play at this stage. The investigation is ongoing, so we’ll have to wait for more updates.
What About Passengers?
If your flight was disrupted, here’s what you should do:
- Check with your airline for updates on rescheduled flights.
- Know your rights: You may be entitled to compensation or a refund, depending on the circumstances.
- Don’t head to the airport unless your airline advises you to.
Why Did This Happen?
This incident has raised some serious questions about Heathrow’s infrastructure. While the airport has backup generators, they weren’t enough to power the entire facility during the outage. Experts are calling it a “clear planning failure,” and there’s already talk of a full investigation into what went wrong.
What’s Next?
Heathrow hopes to be back to normal by Saturday, but it’s going to take some time to clear the backlog of flights. Airlines are working hard to get passengers to their destinations, but delays are inevitable.
Final Thoughts
This was definitely a day to remember (or forget, if you were stuck at the airport!). While it’s frustrating for passengers, it’s also a reminder of how reliant we are on critical infrastructure. Let’s hope lessons are learned, and Heathrow comes back stronger than ever.
If you’ve been affected by the disruption, hang in there—better days are ahead! And if you’re planning to fly soon, keep an eye on your flight status and stay updated with your airline.
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