A devastating London Heathrow Airport fire near a key electrical substation has crippled operations at Europe’s busiest aviation hub, grounding over 1,351 flights and affecting nearly 250,000 passengers worldwide. The All flights have been suspended until midnight, March 21, after both the primary and backup power systems were knocked offline.
Thick smoke and towering orange flames led to mass evacuations and widespread blackouts in surrounding areas. The fire has been termed one of the most disruptive events in recent UK aviation history.
Key Highlights:
Heathrow Airport News: What Happened and What’s Next?
📍 Date of Incident: March 21, 2025
🔥 Cause: Fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow
🛫 Impact: 1,351 flights cancelled or diverted
👥 Passengers Affected: ~250,000
🔌 Power Systems: Both primary and backup power knocked out
Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas told Al Jazeera:
“This could cause disruption not just for 24 hours, but for at least 72 hours… When aircraft and crew end up in unintended locations, it creates chaos across the system.”
Major Airlines Affected by the London Heathrow Airport Fire
Here’s how global carriers have responded to the London Heathrow Airport fire:
Air India (AI)
- AI129 (Mumbai–LHR): Returned to origin
- AI161 (Delhi–LHR): Diverted to Frankfurt (FRA)
- All other flights to/from LHR on March 21 cancelled
British Airways (BA)
- Heathrow is BA’s primary hub
- All operations severely disrupted
- Passengers advised not to travel to LHR
Cathay Pacific (CX)
- Cancelled all six flights from Hong Kong to London
- CX257 turned back mid-flight
Qantas (QF)
- Flights from Singapore and Perth to London diverted to Paris CDG
Singapore Airlines (SQ)
- SQ322, SQ306 diverted to Frankfurt and Paris
- SQ308 returned to Singapore
- 5 other flights cancelled
United Airlines (UA)
- 7 flights cancelled or returned to origin
Scandinavian Airlines (SK)
- Cancelled all 12 round-trip services to/from LHR
Aer Lingus (EI)
- Cancelled all Heathrow flights until further notice
Emirates (EK)
- Cancelled: EK001/002, EK029/030, EK031/032
- Passengers not accepted for travel
Etihad Airways (EY)
- EY61 diverted to Frankfurt
- EY63, EY64, EY65, EY66 cancelled
Qatar Airways (QR)
- Over 9 flights impacted
- Customer support activated for affected passengers
Flight Diversion and Operational Support
- London Gatwick Airport, 60 km away, remains operational and is accepting diverted flights.
- Aircraft from across the globe are being redirected to Frankfurt, Paris, and other major European airports.
At the time of the incident, 120 aircraft were in Heathrow’s airspace, some of which had to make emergency route adjustments.
What Passengers Need to Know
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority:
✈️ If your flight is cancelled, airlines must provide
- Meals and refreshments
- Hotel accommodation (if delayed overnight)
- Transportation to/from hotel or your home
- Refunds or alternate travel options
📢 Important: Keep receipts and records for reimbursement if the airline fails to offer immediate assistance.
The London Heathrow Airport fire has plunged the global aviation network into disarray, causing widespread delays, cancellations, and rerouting chaos. As recovery teams assess the damage and restore power, passengers are advised to check with their airlines regularly and avoid travelling to the airport unless absolutely necessary.
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