Heathrow Airport has closed all operations after a major fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London caused a significant power outage. The fire broke out just before midnight on Thursday, with emergency services called to Nestles Avenue at around 23:23. Though the blaze was brought under control by early Friday morning, the damage disrupted power supplies to Heathrow and surrounding areas, including the failure of the substation’s backup systems.

As a result, Heathrow confirmed it would remain closed until at least 23:59 on 21 March, with no clear timeline for full power restoration. More than 1,300 flights have been affected so far, according to Flightradar24, with many aircraft cancelled or diverted mid-air. Travellers have been urged not to go to the airport and instead contact their airlines for the latest updates.

Airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and United have grounded multiple flights, while Qantas and Cathay Pacific have diverted some services to other European cities such as Paris. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has also reported cancellations for flights to and from Heathrow. Gatwick Airport has said it stands ready to support where needed.

The power outage has affected over 16,000 homes across west London, with around 4,900 still without power, according to energy suppliers. Heathrow Express is running a reduced half-hourly service, and several roads near the substation remain closed. The airport has apologised for the disruption and provided a helpline on 020 8757 2700.