Heathrow Hit by Major Power Outage After Explosion in West London
Heathrow Airport’s Terminal Two is plunged into darkness after a massive explosion and fire ripped through an electrical substation in Hayes, West London. The blast sparked a major power outage, leaving thousands in the area without electricity and wreaking havoc inside the terminal.
Terminal Two in Chaos as Power Cuts Hit Hard
Although air traffic remains unaffected, the power failure has caused severe disruption at Terminal Two. Passengers and staff face darkened check-in areas, limited services, and delays with baggage handling. An insider revealed:
“There is currently no power coming into Terminal Two. Staff are doing their best to support passengers, but it’s proving challenging without electricity.”
Explosive Fire Triggers Evacuations and Major Emergency
The fire broke out early Friday morning at a transformer unit on Nestles Avenue, setting off a large blaze at the substation. London Fire Brigade deployed 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the inferno.
About 150 residents were evacuated as a 200-metre safety cordon was established. Firefighters also led 29 people to safety amid nearly 200 emergency calls. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said:
“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.”
Power Out to 16,000+ Homes and Businesses
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) confirmed the outage has hit over 16,300 homes and businesses across Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas. They posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas.”
Work is ongoing to restore power, but no estimate has been given on full restoration.
Travellers Warned to Check Latest Updates
Heathrow officials are scrambling to manage passenger flows amid the disruption. A formal statement is expected soon. Travellers are urged to check with their airlines or visit heathrow.com for the latest flight and terminal service updates.
