Thousands of travelers were left stranded after a massive fire at an electricity substation knocked out power at Heathrow Airport, leading to a full shutdown of operations.
The fire, which started early Friday, forced Europe’s busiest airport to close for 24 hours, affecting hundreds of flights and causing widespread travel chaos. Airport authorities warned of continued disruptions in the coming days.
Heathrow, which handles over 80 million passengers annually, confirmed on its website that operations would remain suspended until just before midnight Friday (2359 GMT).
Stranded passengers, including visitors from the U.S., struggled to rebook flights. Many expressed frustration over long wait times and costly alternative travel options. Some travelers, like Robyn Autry from New York, worried about the financial burden of finding new flights, while others, such as Chicago couple Anna Schiferl and Charlie Katt, tried to stay optimistic despite repeated travel woes.
British authorities have launched an investigation into the fire, with counterterrorism detectives leading inquiries due to the incident’s impact on critical infrastructure. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office emphasized the need to prevent such disruptions in the future.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has introduced eight “rescue flights” between Dublin and Stansted to assist stranded passengers, with flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
