- Heathrow Airport resumes operations after major power outage.
- Extra flights scheduled to accommodate 10,000 stranded passengers.
- Investigation led by counter-terror police, no foul play suspected yet.
- Thousands of flights disrupted, impacting over 200,000 travelers.
- Ofgem to review incident and potential energy infrastructure issues.
London Heathrow Airport resumed full operations on Saturday (22 March) after a power outage caused severe disruption. The outage, stemming from a fire at an off-site electricity substation, forced flight cancellations and left thousands of travelers stranded.
A statement from Heathrow confirmed that the airport is now “fully operational.” Additional staff have been deployed to manage the backlog of passengers affected by the outage. Heathrow’s management also announced extra flights to accommodate 10,000 travelers who were unable to fly due to Friday’s disruptions.
“We encourage passengers to check with their airlines for the latest flight information,” the airport advised.
Heathrow CEO Addresses Disruptions
Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye acknowledged the inconvenience caused but defended the airport’s response. Speaking to the BBC, he expressed regret but clarified that the power failure occurred outside Heathrow’s infrastructure.
“I am sincerely sorry for the disruption,” Woldbye said. “However, the power substation is not part of Heathrow’s network. We had to manage the consequences of that failure.”
Despite efforts to restore operations swiftly, airlines now face the challenge of rebooking passengers left stranded. Woldbye stated that while further cancellations were unlikely, airlines would still need to manage the displaced travelers.
Fire at Electrical Substation Triggers Chaos
The power failure was traced to a fire at an electricity substation in Hayes, West London, on Thursday night. Witnesses reported two explosions before the fire broke out. The incident resulted in extensive blackouts, school closures, and emergency evacuations of nearby residents.
As a result, flights were diverted to alternative airports, including London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Shannon Airport in Ireland.
Counter-Terrorism Police Investigate
Due to the location and impact of the incident, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation. Authorities have not found any evidence of foul play but are keeping an “open mind.”
“There is currently no indication of a criminal act,” a police spokesperson stated. “However, given the impact on critical infrastructure, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness.”
Investigators will examine whether infrastructure vulnerabilities contributed to the failure and whether preventive measures are necessary.
Ofgem to Review Energy Infrastructure
Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, announced a review of the incident to determine its root cause and assess potential risks to the national power grid.
“All back-up diesel generators at Heathrow operated as expected,” an airport spokesperson said. “However, they are not designed to support full airport operations.”
The outage’s widespread impact has raised concerns about the resilience of the UK’s energy supply. Ofgem’s review aims to ensure such failures do not happen again and to identify improvements in emergency response protocols.
Travel Chaos for Over 200,000 Passengers
The power outage at Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, caused massive disruptions. An estimated 200,000 travelers faced delays or cancellations. Many were left scrambling to find alternative routes, while airlines struggled to manage the logistical nightmare.
Passengers took to social media to express frustration. Some reported being stranded for hours with little information. Others shared concerns about missed connections and business disruptions. As operations normalize, Heathrow officials are working closely with airlines to clear the backlog and restore full service as quickly as possible.
Looking Ahead
While Heathrow has resumed normal operations, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Experts suggest that greater investment in resilient power systems is necessary to prevent future occurrences.
As investigations continue, affected passengers are advised to stay updated through airline notifications. Meanwhile, industry leaders and policymakers are expected to push for stronger safeguards against similar disruptions in the future.