Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, has faced a major shutdown after a fire at a nearby electrical substation disrupted its power supply. This incident, which occurred late Thursday night, has led to significant chaos in global air travel, with experts predicting that the effects will linger for several days and cost millions of dollars.
The fire knocked out both the main power and the backup systems at Heathrow, causing around 1,300 flights to be canceled or diverted. Many long-haul flights had to turn back to their departure points, stranding passengers across the UK and Europe. The estimated cost of the disruption could reach about £20 million ($26 million) per day, according to travel consultant Paul Charles. There is uncertainty about when the airport will reopen, as concerns remain about the reliability of its power systems.
Energy Minister Ed Miliband confirmed that the fire prevented the backup power system from functioning properly. Engineers are now working to implement a third backup option. This incident raises serious questions about the airport’s contingency plans, especially since Heathrow recently claimed to be a leader in airfield resilience.
Experts have expressed disbelief at the scale of the outage. Tim Green, from Imperial College London, noted that it’s unusual for all electrical routes to fail at an airport. Tony Cox, a risk management consultant, remarked that he couldn’t recall a similar situation where critical infrastructure was completely shut down for such a long period due to a fire.
The repercussions of the closure are expected to be felt worldwide as airlines scramble to adjust their schedules and manage their crews. Independent consultant John Strickland highlighted that once aircraft are grounded, they remain stuck until crew members complete their required rest periods, prolonging the backlog.
This is not the first time the UK aviation sector has experienced a significant outage. Earlier this year, a failure in the air traffic control system cost over £100 million ($129 million) and raised concerns about the stability of the infrastructure.
The situation at Heathrow will likely lead to increased scrutiny of the airport’s planning and safety measures. Willie Walsh, the former head of British Airways, criticized the lack of effective planning, calling it a clear failure.
Under EU and UK regulations, passengers are entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations unless the airline is at fault. In this case, the airlines are not responsible, but many are expected to offer rerouting options or refunds, along with some support for stranded travelers. However, the question of who will ultimately bear the costs of this disruption remains unclear, with discussions likely involving the airport, airlines, electricity providers, and insurance companies.
As the situation unfolds, the focus will be on how the airport addresses these failures and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.