Heathrow in Dark as Power Cut Grounds Thousands of Flights
Chaos hit Heathrow Airport on Friday after a massive power failure sparked by a huge blaze at a West London electricity substation plunged the UK’s busiest airport into darkness. Thousands of passengers were stranded as just eight flights managed to depart all day.
Power Outage Sparks Massive Disruption
The fire erupted early Friday morning at a substation in Hayes, West London, knocking out electricity to Heathrow. Terminals went dark and the majority of flights were cancelled or delayed, crippling operations.
British Airways eventually managed to get a handful of flights off the ground late in the evening, including the first departure at 8:58pm GMT to Riyadh. But for hours, travellers faced misery and massive uncertainty.
Airport Chief Issues Mea Culpa
Heathrow’s CEO Thomas Woldbye admitted the airport’s backup power wasn’t up to the job. “This is as big as it gets for our airport,” he said. “We expect to be back in full operation tomorrow — 100% operation as a normal day. Passengers should come to the airport as they normally would. There’s no reason to come earlier.”
Flights Diverted Across Europe, Thousands Affected
More than 2,000 flights were cancelled, stranding around 145,000 passengers. Some were rerouted to Manchester, Gatwick, Stansted, and even overseas airports in Germany, France, and Ireland. The Department for Transport temporarily lifted overnight flight restrictions to help ease the chaos.
No Foul Play Suspected, But Probe Ongoing
The fire is not believed to be suspicious, but the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading an investigation as a precaution. Commander Simon Messinger said: “There is no indication of foul play, but enquiries remain ongoing.”
CAA to Review Heathrow’s Response
The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed it will scrutinise the incident and Heathrow’s handling of the crisis. A spokesperson stated: “We require Heathrow to have a resilience plan to cover periods of disruption. There will, of course, be lessons learned from this event.”
Looking Ahead: Delays Expected Into the Weekend
British Airways plans to run around 85% of its flights on Saturday but warns travellers to expect delays and ongoing disruption. The airport urges passengers to check with airlines before travelling and brace for longer processing times.
After a day of unprecedented turmoil, millions hope Saturday will finally see Heathrow back to normal.
