Flights Resume After Power Outage
Flights have resumed at Heathrow Airport after a substation fire led to an “unprecedented” power loss. The airport expects full operations to return by Saturday.
The fire at the North Hyde plant in Hayes, west London, caused major disruptions. About 200,000 passengers were affected as flights were grounded on Friday. Inbound flights were diverted to other European airports.
Figure 1: Several major airlines have said they will resume flights as some overnight restrictions are lifted
Heathrow Chief Apologises for Disruptions
Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, apologised to passengers. He described the incident as “as big as it gets for our airport.” He stated the airport could not protect itself “100%” from such incidents.
“The fire resulted in the loss of power equal to that of a mid-sized city,” Woldbye said. He explained that a backup transformer failed, forcing the shutdown of systems for safety reasons.
Airlines Restart Scheduled Flights
Several airlines, including British Airways, Air Canada, and United Airlines, have restarted flights. British Airways confirmed eight long-haul flights departed on Friday evening. The airline is urgently contacting affected customers.
A Heathrow spokesperson said initial flights focused on repatriating diverted passengers and relocating aircraft.
FIgure 2: Passengers waiting to board flights after they resumed on Friday evening
Temporary Lifting of Overnight Flight Restrictions
The Department of Transport temporarily lifted overnight flight restrictions to ease congestion. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the fire was not suspicious. Investigators are examining electrical distribution equipment to determine the cause.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded at 23:20 GMT on Thursday. Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters tackled the blaze, which was under control by 06:30.
The fire involved a transformer containing 25,000 litres of cooling fluid. Authorities established a large safety cordon and evacuated 150 residents. Hillingdon Council provided hotel accommodation for 12 people.
By 17:00, most residents had returned home. The National Grid restored power to over 65,000 affected homes by 14:00 on Friday.
Figure 3: London Fire Brigade controlled the fire by 6:30 on Friday
Heathrow’s Backup Systems and Future Measures
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said airport authorities activated their resilience plan quickly. She stated they worked closely with emergency responders and airline operators.
“They do have backup energy supplies, including diesel generators,” Alexander said. She clarified that the backup supply protects critical systems but does not power the entire airport.
Alexander is in contact with the energy and home secretaries to assess lessons from the incident. Ofgem, the energy regulator, will review the incident and recommend improvements.
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Passenger Experiences Amid Disruptions
Passengers faced difficulties due to the unexpected shutdown. A Texas family bound for Dallas arrived at Heathrow on Friday morning, only to find the airport closed.
Andrew Sri, travelling with his wife and three children, expressed frustration. “I just wish they had updated us accordingly,” he said.
Local resident Savita Kapur described the intensity of the explosions. “I literally just ran out of the house,” she said. She recalled feeling the ground shake as a second explosion occurred.
Other passengers reported long waits, lack of clear communication, and uncertainty about rebooking flights. Some spent hours in terminals waiting for updates. Many struggled to find alternative travel arrangements.
Figure 4: Passengers faced difficulties due to the unexpected shutdown
Heathrow’s Role as a Major Aviation Hub
Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, handling 1,300 landings and take-offs daily. A record 83.9 million passengers passed through its terminals last year.
Airport authorities remain focused on restoring full operations. Woldbye confirmed Heathrow expects to resume “100% operation” by Saturday.
The incident has raised concerns about power infrastructure resilience in critical transport hubs. Officials will review protocols to prevent similar large-scale disruptions. Future plans may include stronger backup power solutions and improved emergency response strategies.
