Why Is London’s Heathrow Airport Closed? When Will It Reopen? How Air India and Other Airlines Reacted as 1,350 Flights Were Disrupted

Heathrow Airport shut down on March 21 due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, causing power outages that affected 100,000 homes, with approximately 4,000 still without electricity.

A Qatar Airways flight was seen landing at Heathrow Airport in west London. The UK’s busiest airport—also the busiest in Europe—was forced to shut down early on March 21, 2025, after a major fire at an electrical substation led to a power outage. (AFP file)

Heathrow Airport Closure and Impact

London’s Heathrow Airport remained closed throughout Friday, March 21, following a fire at a nearby electrical substation that cut off power, causing widespread flight disruptions.

According to FlightRadar24, at least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were affected, with disruptions expected to last several days as airlines and passengers scrambled to reschedule travel plans.

At the time of the closure, approximately 120 flights were airborne, forcing some to turn back, while others were rerouted to alternative airports, including Gatwick (London), Charles de Gaulle (Paris), and Shannon (Ireland), according to flight tracking data.

What Happened?

Heathrow Airport was shut down early on Friday after a major fire at an electrical substation triggered a massive power outage.

The London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze in Hayes, west London, at 11:23 PM (GMT). Ten fire engines and dozens of firefighters were deployed, and around 150 people were evacuated from nearby properties.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne stated that firefighters had worked “tirelessly in challenging conditions” and managed to bring the fire “under control” by 8 AM.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband assured the public that the government was “doing everything we can” to restore power to Heathrow. While 100,000 homes initially lost power, electricity had been restored to all except 4,000 households.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the fire was deliberately set. However, Ruth Cadbury, chairwoman of the parliamentary transport committee, told Times Radio that while “there are obviously questions about it,” any claims of arson were “speculative at this stage.”

Airlines Affected

Several major airlines were impacted by the Heathrow shutdown, including:

• British Airways

• Virgin Atlantic

• Lufthansa

• American Airlines

• United Airlines

• Swiss

• Eurowings

• Delta Air Lines

• Air India

How Airlines Responded

Here’s how airlines reacted to the unexpected closure:

• Air India: “London Heathrow-bound AI129 from Mumbai is returning to Mumbai; AI161 from Delhi is diverting to Frankfurt. All remaining flights to and from Heathrow, including AI111 this morning, have been canceled for March 21.”

• British Airways: “Due to a power outage in the London Heathrow area, the airport is currently closed. Customers scheduled to travel from Heathrow on Friday are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice. This will have a significant impact on our operations, and we’re working quickly to provide travel alternatives for the next 24 hours and beyond.”

• United Airlines: “Seven United flights returned to their origin or were diverted to alternative airports, and Friday flights to Heathrow have been canceled. We are working with affected customers to arrange new travel plans.”

• Aer Lingus: “All flights to and from Heathrow are canceled until further notice due to the airport’s closure.”

• Virgin Atlantic: “The power outage has had a significant impact on our operations. All Virgin Atlantic flights arriving and departing from Heathrow are canceled until midday on March 21, with the rest of today’s schedule currently under review.”

• Qantas: “Our Singapore-London and Perth-London services were diverted to Paris, and buses were arranged to transport customers to London.”

• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): “All 12 round trips to and from Heathrow have been canceled so far. We will keep affected passengers informed.”

• Ryanair: The airline posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it had added up to eight rescue flights between Dublin and London Stansted to assist passengers affected by Heathrow’s closure.

• Singapore Airlines: A spokesperson confirmed that four flights from Singapore to London were affected, and four flights from London to Singapore were canceled.

(Source: Cirium Ascend, company statements. Note: Seat availability represents capacity, not ticketed passengers.)

About Heathrow Airport

• Opened in 1946 as London Airport before being renamed Heathrow after a hamlet that was demolished in 1944 to make way for its construction.

• Covers a total area of 12.3 square kilometers (4.8 square miles).

• Located 25 kilometers west of central London, Heathrow has four terminals and serves 200 destinations across more than 80 countries.

• In 2024, some of Heathrow’s busiest routes included Dublin, Los Angeles, Madrid, and New York.

Conclusion

The fire-induced power outage at Heathrow Airport led to one of the most significant travel disruptions in recent history, affecting over 1,350 flights and tens of thousands of passengers. While power restoration efforts are ongoing, Heathrow’s operations are expected to remain severely impacted for several days as airlines work to rebook affected travelers.