One of the largest airports in the world has come to a standstill.
London’s Heathrow Airport is shut for the entire day after “a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport” caused a massive power outage, according to Heathrow’s official X account. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information.”

The fire, which broke out around 11:30 PM Thursday in Hayes—about 2 kilometers from Heathrow—triggered an explosion at the airport’s main substation. Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said, “Our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.”

Roughly 200,000 passengers were expected today, but Heathrow’s closure has led to 1,357 flights canceled, delayed, or rerouted. Some flights already en route had to land elsewhere, with Gatwick nearing full capacity. Experts warn disruptions “could drag on for days.”
National Rail confirmed rail services to and from Heathrow are canceled Friday, compounding the travel chaos. Heathrow, which welcomed over 6.3 million passengers in January, is facing serious questions about its backup power systems, as the shutdown raises concerns over its infrastructure.