Due to a significant fire at the electrical substation supplying power to Heathrow Airport, the airport has experienced a significant power outage, leading to temporary closure and chaos for thousands of passengers. In an official statement, Heathrow announced that the airport will remain closed until 23:59 on March 21 to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.
The statement reads: “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 23:59 on March 21. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
According to sources at the scene, the fire broke out on Thursday evening, and smoke was visible from a considerable distance. Local residents reported loud explosions before the power outage occurred. The London Fire Brigade responded promptly, deploying more than 60 firefighters and ten vehicles to control the blaze.
Heathrow also issued a NOTAM confirming the airport’s closure:
NOTAM A1918/25: London Heathrow Airport (EGLL)
A1918/25 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QFALC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5129N00028W005
A) EGLL B) 2503210143 C) 2503212359
E) AD CLOSED DUE TO A MAJOR INCIDENT IN THE LOCAL VICINITY AFFECTING POWER SUPPLY
CREATED: 21 Mar 2025 01:44:00
Due to the closure of Heathrow, British Airways has canceled today’s flights BA840 and BA841 between London Heathrow and Zagreb. Both flights, in both directions, will not operate, and passengers are advised to contact the airline for more information about compensation or rebooking.
Croatia Airlines flights OU490 and OU491 between Zagreb and London Heathrow are also canceled. Croatia Airlines passengers are advised to regularly check the airline’s official channels for updated information. Other flights from Croatia to London are not affected, as their destinations are not Heathrow Airport. At the time of writing, more than 60 flights scheduled to take off or land at Heathrow have been canceled, while it is estimated that by the end of the day, more than 1,300 flights will be delayed or canceled.
The energy company UK Power Networks confirmed that it is working to restore power supply but warned that recovery could take some time. Local authorities are urging residents to avoid the area due to the risk of remaining faulty installations.
Passengers have expressed frustration over delays and cancellations. Numerous comments have appeared on social media, with some passengers, particularly transfer passengers, reporting that they are stranded at the airport without clear information on when flights will resume. Heathrow has promised to provide regular updates to passengers through its official channels, including its website and app.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The situation at Heathrow will be monitored in the coming hours, and passengers are advised to stay informed through the airport’s and airlines’ official channels.
