Heathrow Airport Closed Due to Major Fire and Power Outage

London's Heathrow Airport, the busiest in Britain, was forced to close on Friday after a fire at an electrical substation plunged the airport into darkness. The closure is expected to last until midnight local time.

Heathrow Airport confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage." Passengers were strongly advised against traveling to the airport until further notice.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

The London Fire Brigade swiftly responded to the blaze, deploying 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters to the scene near Hayes, west London. The fire was reported at an electrical substation close to the airport.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne described the incident as a "highly visible and significant event." He confirmed that firefighters had safely led 29 people from nearby properties, and around 150 individuals evacuated themselves as a precautionary measure.

Goulbourne added that the fire has caused power outages affecting a substantial number of homes and local businesses in the area. The authorities are collaborating closely with partners to minimize disruption caused by the incident.

While the exact number of flights immediately affected by the power outage remains unclear, Heathrow Airport announced the closure until midnight local time. Travelers were urged to contact their airlines directly for updated information regarding their flights.

The cause of the fire at the electrical substation is currently unknown and under investigation. This developing story will be further updated as more information becomes available.