Power Partially Back at Heathrow – But Airport Still Shut
Heathrow Airport is in chaos after a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. While power has been partially restored, the transport hub remains closed, stranding over 200,000 passengers and triggering widespread travel mayhem.
Partial Power Returns, But Heathrow Stays Closed
National Grid has managed an “interim solution” restoring some power at Europe’s busiest airport. Lights and lifts are back working in Terminal 4, offering a glimmer of hope. However, Heathrow confirmed it will stay shut until at least 11:59pm on Friday, with no flights resuming yet.
Flight Chaos: 1,350 Flights Grounded, Thousands Stranded
The blackout has knocked out more than 1,350 scheduled flights, according to Flightradar24, causing ripple effects across the UK and European air travel networks. Passengers have been told not to travel to Heathrow under any circumstances as disruption is expected to continue for days.
“We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available,” said a Heathrow spokesperson.
“We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
Airlines Scramble with Contingency Plans
EasyJet and Ryanair have sprung into action. EasyJet is deploying larger aircraft to help affected travellers, while Ryanair arranged “rescue flights” to assist stranded passengers amid the shutdown. Travellers are urged to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates on rescheduling and travel alternatives.
Ongoing Impact and What Passengers Should Do
The fire at the Hayes North Hyde substation – which powers Heathrow with as much energy as a small city – highlights cracks in critical infrastructure. Calls for improved resilience planning are growing louder.
Passengers flying through Heathrow this weekend must regularly check airline communications and monitor official Heathrow updates. For now, the airport remains closed with no clear timeline for full reopening.
