Major Fire at London Substation Shuts Heathrow Airport, Cuts Power to Thousands

Post by: Pratik Kumar

Photo : X / @Sputnik

A big fire at an electricity substation in west London caused a major power cut, forcing Heathrow Airport to shut down until midnight. The fire led to over 1,350 flights being cancelled or delayed and left more than 16,000 homes without power. Around 150 people were moved to safety as emergency teams worked to control the blaze.

The fire started at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, which is in the Hillingdon area. The London Fire Brigade sent 10 fire engines and about 70 firefighters to put out the flames. A safety area of 200 metres was marked around the site. People living nearby were asked to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows shut to avoid the smoke.

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By late morning on March 21, the fire was still burning. Many homes in Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas were without electricity.

Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, announced that it would remain closed until 11:59 pm. The airport asked passengers not to travel and to contact their airlines for details. In a social media post, Heathrow said the power cut was caused by the substation fire.

An airport official told the BBC they could not say when power would return but promised they were working hard to fix the problem.

Several flights were diverted to other airports, including Gatwick Airport, which is about 60 km away. Gatwick said it was accepting flights from Heathrow but was not affected by the power cut.

Air India announced that it had cancelled all its flights to and from Heathrow for the day. The airline gave helpline numbers for passengers needing help or information.

Videos of the fire shared online showed bright orange flames and thick black smoke filling the sky. The footage, posted by Russian Sputnik, captured the fire’s size and intensity.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN), which supplies power to millions of homes in southern England and Scotland, confirmed that the fire started at the North Hyde substation. The company said their main focus was keeping residents, workers, and emergency teams safe.

"We know many homes in Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas have no power. The site has been cleared, and safety is our top concern," SSEN said in a statement.

Heathrow Airport, which saw a record 84 million passengers in 2024, is now facing big troubles. The sudden closure caused frustration for travellers. Many people shared their anger online, calling the situation "shameful" for a major airport.

Some questioned why the airport didn’t have backup power or stronger safety measures. Others joked about the incident, comparing it to the action movie Die Hard, where the main character stops a terrorist attack at an airport.

Airport officials have warned that flight schedules will remain affected for several days, with more delays and cancellations expected. Emergency workers are still trying to bring the fire under control and restore power.

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