Air India Cancels and Reroutes Flights Due To Heathrow Power Failure; Check If Your Flight Is Affected

A major power outage at London's Heathrow Airport has led to a standstill in operations, affecting hundreds of flights. Air India has announced the cancellation of all its Heathrow-bound flights for today, according to a Times Now report. Some flights, including AI129 from Mumbai, are returning to their origin cities, while AI161 from Delhi has been rerouted to Frankfurt. The airline has also cancelled other scheduled services, such as the morning flight AI111. However, flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected.

The power failure follows a severe fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, in the early hours of March 21. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze, which also resulted in the evacuation of about 150 people. Authorities set up a 200-metre security cordon around the site as a precaution. The fire has left thousands of homes and businesses in the area without power.

Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has suspended all operations until 23:59 London time. Over 1,300 flights have been impacted, forcing airlines like Qantas and United Airlines to reroute flights to other airports, including Paris and Shannon.

Airport authorities have advised passengers to avoid travelling to Heathrow and to stay in contact with their airlines for updates. While efforts are ongoing to restore power, there is no confirmed timeline for the resumption of normal operations.

This disruption adds to a series of major incidents at Heathrow in recent years. In December 2010, heavy snowfall led to widespread cancellations, while a fire on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in July 2013 also caused temporary operational halts.

Air India, which operates multiple daily flights between India and Heathrow, has assured passengers that it will provide further updates as more information becomes available. Passengers are advised to check official communication channels for the latest flight updates and alternative travel arrangements.