The operator of London’s Heathrow Airport announced that the largest airport in Europe has been shut down following a massive fire at a substation that supplies it with electricity. The closure is expected to last throughout Friday.
In a statement, Heathrow Airport Holdings said, “Heathrow Airport is experiencing a major power outage. For the safety of our passengers and staff, the airport will remain closed until 23:59 (local and GMT) on March 21.”
The statement urged travelers not to go to the airport under any circumstances until it reopens.
According to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, multiple flights have been rerouted. Airport authorities have warned of “significant disruptions in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, London’s Fire Brigade confirmed that a “major fire” broke out at a substation in the town of Hayes, located in the Hillingdon borough.
Fire official Pat Gulbourn stated, “The fire caused a power outage, affecting a large number of homes and businesses. We are working closely with our partners to minimize the disruption.”
Firefighters are battling challenging conditions to control the blaze as quickly as possible, he added.
Among the disrupted flights, a Qantas flight from Perth was diverted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, while a United Airlines flight from New York was redirected to Shannon Airport in Ireland.
Heathrow Airport handles more than 80 million passengers annually.
