London Heathrow Airport will remain closed throughout Friday, March 21, due to a power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation, officials announced this morning. By noon, it was confirmed that the power restoration timeline remains uncertain, and disruptions are expected to last several days. Heathrow, Europe’s largest airport and the world’s second-largest after Dubai International Airport, serves as a critical global hub.

In a statement, Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd. said, “A significant power outage has occurred at Heathrow. To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, the airport will remain closed from March 21 until 11:59 PM [1:00 PM Paris time on Saturday].” Energy Secretary Eddie Miliband commented on the unusual nature of the incident, telling Sky News, “The substation fire has impacted not only the airport but also a nearby motorcycle manufacturer, highlighting the severity and rarity of this event.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, “There will undoubtedly be questions about how this incident occurred and what measures must be implemented to prevent similar large-scale disruptions in the future.” The spokesperson also mentioned that an interdepartmental meeting was convened on Friday morning to address the crisis.

Two days after the incident, the Metropolitan Police announced that its armed unit had launched an investigation. In a statement, the police said, “Given the location of the incident and its impact on critical national infrastructure, the Met’s Specialist Crime Command has taken over the investigation.” However, they emphasized that “there are currently no indications of deliberate action or foul play.”

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), criticized Heathrow’s preparedness, calling the outage a “systemic failure.” Speaking on Thursday, Walsh said, “How is it possible for a world-class facility like Heathrow to rely entirely on a single power source without any backup? This is a clear organizational failure on the part of the airport’s management.”

### Firefighting Efforts and Broader Impact

Firefighting resources were diverted to other airports, including Roissy-Charles de Gaulle in Paris, to manage the fallout from the incident. According to lawyer Pat Goulbourne, Forex Medical reported that they had “identified the source of the fire and contained it, preventing further spread.” Goulbourne added, “Our team will remain on-site throughout the day to assist National Grid in restoring power.”

Jonathan Smith, a spokesperson for the fire department, revealed that the fire “affected a cylinder containing 25,000 kWh of cooling oil, which ignited and posed a significant risk due to the presence of high-voltage equipment.”

The fire broke out on Thursday evening at the Hayes power substation in West London, a critical facility supplying electricity to Heathrow Airport. Ten fire trucks and approximately 70 specialized railway personnel were deployed to the scene. Around 150 people were evacuated from the area, and a 200-meter security perimeter was established to ensure public safety.