Fire Erupts at London Substation, Shuts Heathrow, Leaves Thousands Without Power

London's Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, came to a standstill after a major fire broke out at an electrical substation in the western part of the city, triggering a massive power outage. The disruption has led to the cancellation of at least 1,351 inbound and outbound flights and left over 16,000 homes without electricity. More than 150 people were also evacuated from nearby areas, according to British media reports.

The London Fire Brigade rushed to the scene with 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters, working to contain the blaze. Authorities set up a 200-metre safety cordon around the affected area in Hayes, a neighborhood in London's Hillingdon borough, and advised local residents to stay indoors and keep their windows shut due to the thick smoke.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) early Friday morning, Heathrow Airport urged passengers to avoid traveling to the airport and instead contact their airlines for updates. "Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 11:59 pm on March 21," the airport announced.

With uncertainty over when power will be fully restored, an airport spokesperson told the BBC that authorities are doing their best to resolve the situation. "Whilst fire crews are responding, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored."

Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 has already reported multiple diversions, while Heathrow authorities warned of "significant disruptions" in the coming days. Airlines are scrambling to adjust, with Air India confirming that all its flights to and from Heathrow have been canceled for the day. The airline has provided helpline numbers for affected passengers seeking assistance.

Dramatic footage of the fire, shared online by Russia's state-owned news agency Sputnik, shows flames lighting up the night sky with thick plumes of smoke billowing above the city.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Network, which supplies power to millions of homes across central and southern England and parts of Scotland, confirmed that the fire broke out at the North Hyde substation. "We are aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers in Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas. The site has been evacuated, and ensuring the safety of residents, our teams, and emergency responders remains our highest priority," the company stated.

As Heathrow remains out of action, thousands of travelers are left stranded, waiting for updates on when operations will resume.