Heathrow Airport shutdown sparks global travel chaos as counter-terror police investigate

Heathrow Airport shutdown sparks global travel chaos as counter-terror police investigate

Cassie B.

• A fire at a Heathrow Airport substation caused a complete shutdown, grounding hundreds of flights and stranding 290,000 passengers globally.
• Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incident due to its impact on critical national infrastructure.
• Over 120 flights were diverted mid-air, with passengers left stranded at airports worldwide without assistance or information.
• The fire exposed vulnerabilities in Britain’s infrastructure, raising concerns about disaster management and backup systems.
• Heathrow’s closure has caused unprecedented global travel chaos, with disruptions expected to last days or weeks.

A catastrophic fire at an electrical substation near London’s Heathrow Airport forced the world’s busiest international travel hub to shut down completely early Friday, triggering unprecedented global travel chaos.

The blaze, which erupted late Thursday night, knocked out power to the airport, grounding hundreds of flights and leaving at least 290,000 passengers stranded worldwide. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with counter-terrorism police leading the probe due to the incident’s impact on critical national infrastructure.

The shutdown sent shockwaves across the globe, with 36 planes left circling for hours before being diverted to airports as far away as Paris, Frankfurt, and even Goose Bay, Canada. Dozens of flights from cities like New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Delhi were forced to make dramatic mid-air turnarounds, leaving passengers frustrated and scrambling for alternatives. Heathrow, which handles an average of 1,300 flights daily, is a vital hub for international travel, and its closure has disrupted operations for airlines and travelers worldwide.

While authorities have found no evidence of foul play, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation due to the fire’s proximity to critical infrastructure. “Given the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is now leading inquiries,” a police spokesperson said.

The fire, which involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling fluid, caused widespread power outages in the surrounding area, including at Heathrow. The airport’s backup generators, while operational, were insufficient to maintain full operations, forcing the closure.

“We expect significant disruption over the coming days, and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,” a Heathrow spokesperson said.

The incident has raised serious questions about the resilience of Britain’s critical infrastructure. Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think tank, warned that the shutdown highlights systemic vulnerabilities. “If one fire can shut down Heathrow’s primary systems and then apparently the backup systems as well, it tells you something’s badly wrong with our system of management of such disasters,” he said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office acknowledged the need for a rigorous investigation to ensure such a disruption does not happen again. Meanwhile, Ofgem, the energy regulator, has commissioned a review to understand the cause of the incident and identify lessons for the future.