Heathrow Airport Shut Down by Fire, 1,350 Flights Cancelled

London's Heathrow Airport was forced to close its operations following a major fire at an electrical substation in the town of Hayes, west of London. The blaze, which was described as "highly visible," led to a significant power outage that affected not only the airport but also thousands of nearby residents. Around 70 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which began just hours before the airport was set to open on Friday. The closure has resulted in the cancellation of over 1,350 flights, with potentially over 100,000 passengers worldwide having their travel plans disrupted.

The power outage caused by the fire has left over 16,000 homes in the surrounding area without electricity. The London Fire Brigade received hundreds of calls from local residents concerned about the substantial amount of smoke from the site, leading to the evacuation of over 100 people from their homes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities have advised passengers to avoid traveling to the airport until it reopens.

The closure of Heathrow Airport has had a significant impact on global travel. More than 100 flights that were already en route to Heathrow were diverted, with several airlines forced to reconfigure their flight networks. United Airlines had seven of its scheduled flights return to their airport of origin, while Delta and American Airlines canceled flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International. The UK rail company, National Rail, has also stopped all trains to Heathrow, exacerbating the disruption for passengers.

The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of Heathrow's infrastructure, despite recent government approval for plans to build a third runway to boost economic growth. The airport is expected to remain closed until at least midnight local time on Friday, with authorities warning of significant disruption over the coming days. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on their flights and to avoid traveling to the airport until further notice.

The widespread disruption caused by the fire at the electrical substation underscores the critical role that infrastructure plays in maintaining the smooth operation of major transportation hubs. The closure of Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has sent ripples through the global travel industry, affecting airlines and passengers alike. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust infrastructure and emergency response systems in mitigating the impact of such events.