Heathrow Airport will remain closed throughout Friday, March 21, 2025, following a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation that has caused a "significant power outage across the airport," according to an official spokesperson.
During the early hours of Friday morning, airport staff evacuated passengers and employees, issuing a statement confirming the closure. "To ensure the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will remain closed until 23:59 on March 21. We urge passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airline for further details. We apologise for the inconvenience," the statement read.
The shutdown is expected to create widespread travel disruption, affecting not only those flying to and from Heathrow but also other UK airports receiving diverted flights and international cities experiencing the ripple effects.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 estimates that over 1,300 flights will be impacted by the closure, not including additional cancellations and delays caused by aircraft being out of position.
Gatwick Airport remains open and is accommodating some diverted flights. Heathrow, which serves around 220,000 passengers daily and acts as British Airways' primary hub, is facing major operational challenges. British Airways acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "This outage will significantly impact our operations and customers. We are working urgently to update passengers on their travel options over the next 24 hours and beyond. Whenever possible, we are diverting incoming flights to other UK airports."
Some airlines have rerouted flights to alternative European hubs, while an Air India flight returned to Mumbai.
With the disruption expected to continue for several days, emergency crews are still working to control the fire. As of 7:15 a.m. on Friday, March 21, 70 firefighters remain on the scene battling the blaze.
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