Heathrow Airport has been severely impacted by a major power outage following a large-scale explosion and fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, with Terminal Two currently without power, sources have revealed.
While air traffic operations remain unaffected, the power failure has caused significant disruption inside the terminal, with airport staff and passengers facing darkened areas, limited services, and delays at check-in and baggage handling points.
The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Friday morning, was triggered by a fire in a transformer unit at a substation on Nestles Avenue. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze.
Homes Evacuated and Power Cut to Thousands
The explosion and fire prompted the evacuation of around 150 people from nearby residential buildings. A 200-metre safety cordon has been put in place as a precaution while fire crews work to bring the incident under control.
“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” said London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne.
Firefighters also led 29 people to safety, and the Brigade confirmed nearly 200 emergency calls were received regarding the fire. Crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall, and surrounding stations remain on site.
Over 16,000 Homes Without Power
According to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the fire has caused a widespread power outage affecting more than 16,300 homes and businesses in Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” SSEN said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Work is underway to restore electricity to the affected areas, but no official estimate has yet been provided on when full service will be restored.
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Airport Operations Under Pressure
Despite air traffic systems operating independently of the substation, Heathrow Airport staff are scrambling to manage passenger flows at Terminal Two, where check-in counters, retail services, and lighting have been severely impacted.
An airport source said:
“There is currently no power coming into Terminal Two. Staff are doing their best to support passengers, but it’s proving challenging without electricity.”
Airport officials are expected to issue a formal statement later today.
Travelling through Heathrow?
Check with your airline or visit heathrow.com for the latest flight and terminal service updates.
