A blaze at North Hyde substation in West London caused a city-wide power outage, forcing Heathrow Airport to suspend operations till midnight and affecting over 16,000 homes.
London, March 21, 2025:
A major fire at a power substation in West London has triggered a citywide disruption, forcing the complete shutdown of Heathrow Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — until midnight. The fire, which broke out at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, Hillingdon, has led to a widespread power outage affecting over 16,000 households and businesses.
The London Fire Brigade has deployed 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters to the scene, establishing a 200-metre safety cordon. Residents in the area have been advised to remain indoors and keep their doors and windows shut due to heavy smoke.
In an official statement, Heathrow Airport said:
“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.”
Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025
To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.
Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport… pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd
The disruption has caused several incoming flights to be diverted, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. An airport spokesperson told the BBC, “We do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored… we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
📹 POWER BLAZE IN LONDON SHUTS DOWN UK’S BUSIEST AIRPORT, HEATHROW – REPORTS
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 21, 2025
Firefighters are struggling to contain a major blaze at the Hayes electrical substation, causing evacuations and widespread power outages, Sky News reported.
Videos from social media pic.twitter.com/XwfAopJYvq
The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), which supplies electricity across a large part of England and Scotland, confirmed the incident and said emergency teams were prioritizing safety at the site.
SSEN posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“We are aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas. The site has been evacuated and the safety of local residents, our colleagues, and emergency teams is our highest priority.”
Visuals shared online show a large fire lighting up the night sky and a thick plume of smoke visible across several blocks.
Heathrow, ranked the 4th busiest airport globally by OAG in 2024, typically handles over 51 million seat bookings annually. The sudden shutdown has caused massive concern among travellers. Social media is abuzz with complaints, with many expressing disbelief at the lack of adequate power backup. Some even referenced the situation humorously, comparing it to the events of the Die Hard movie franchise.
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Authorities are yet to determine the full cause of the fire and when normalcy will return. Significant travel disruptions are expected over the next few days.
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