This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Heathrow Airport closed all day
21/03/2025
It’s following an electrical substation fire
Heathrow Airport will be closed all day on Friday following an electrical substation blaze in west London.
Thousands of homes have been left without power and more than 100 people were evacuated after a transformer within the North Hyde electrical substation caught fire in Hayes.
The airport said it was among those impacted by the power outage.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.
“We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes.
Around 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution.
Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.
“The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption.”
Firefighters led 29 people from surrounding properties to safety.
Footage posted to social media showed huge flames and large plumes of smoke coming from the facility.
The brigade said nearly 200 calls had been received in relation to the incident with crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding areas on the scene.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said in a post on X there was a large-scale power outage in the area impacting more than 16,300 homes.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” they said.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.23pm on Thursday. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Mr Goulbourne said firefighters urged people to take safety precautions as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
“This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night,” he said.
“As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”
London Ambulance Service said on X it was “supporting emergency services colleagues” at the scene.
Published: by Radio NewsHub