Heathrow Airport in London has remained closed throughout the day due to a fire at an electrical substation, which resulted in a significant power outage and disrupted global travel. The blaze erupted late Thursday in a transformer facility located approximately 2 kilometers from the airport, leading to an explosion at the main electrical substation. Although the fire has been brought under control, power has not yet been restored, and significant disruptions are anticipated for several days.
In response to the situation, authorities have canceled more than 1,350 flights, impacting nearly 200,000 travelers. Numerous aircraft en route to Heathrow have been redirected, and other airports across Europe are preparing for increased passenger overflow. Additionally, rail services connecting to and from the airport have been halted. As one of the busiest airports worldwide, Heathrow typically accommodates over 200,000 passengers each day. This incident has raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of backup power systems, as officials at Heathrow strive to resume normal operations.
