Heathrow Airport Shuts Down Friday as Fire Disrupts Power; Phoenix Flights Grounded

PHOENIX — Heathrow Airport, one of the globe’s busiest international travel hubs, is shut down due to a fire in an electrical substation. The incident has disrupted services for countless passengers on Friday, marking a significant operational challenge for the airport.

The fire resulted from a malfunctioning transformer, which caused extensive damage and a subsequent power outage affecting not just the airport but also thousands of local residents. Approximately 150 individuals were evacuated from nearby areas as a precautionary measure.

Heathrow’s management stated, “To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow for the full day Friday.” They advised travelers to avoid heading to the airport and promised updates as more information becomes available regarding power restoration and operational status.

Earlier this year, Heathrow set a record with over 6.3 million passengers in January alone, underscoring its importance in international travel. The airport has been experiencing consistent growth, attributing a surge in traffic to increased transatlantic flights. Recently, the U.K. government approved plans for a third runway, aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting the local economy.

Currently, reports indicate that at least one direct flight from Phoenix to Heathrow is marked as “delayed,” as a result of the ongoing situation.

London Fire Brigade responded swiftly, deploying 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters to combat the blaze. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne confirmed that efforts were underway to minimize disruptions to local businesses and residents affected by the outage, which has impacted over 16,300 homes according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 11:23 p.m. on Thursday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Goulbourne urged residents to take safety precautions and steer clear of the area as fire crews continue their work.