Heathrow Airport, one of Europe’s busiest, had to shut down for 24 hours after a large fire broke out at a nearby power station, causing a major blackout.
Airport officials said there will be “major disruptions” in the next few days, with hundreds of flights canceled and thousands of passengers impacted. The airport will remain closed until 11:59 PM GMT on Friday, and travelers are being told not to go to the airport under any circumstances.
According to FlightRadar24, a flight tracking service, at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be affected. Additionally, 120 flights were already in the air when the closure was announced.
The London Fire Brigade reported that the fire started at a power station in Hayes, a town close to Heathrow in the Hillingdon area of London. Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire trucks were sent to put out the fire, and 150 people were evacuated from nearby buildings.
Photos and videos on social media showed large flames and thick smoke coming from the power station, though these have not been confirmed by official sources. Other images from inside Heathrow showed closed shops and empty terminals, with only emergency lights working.
Pat Goulbourne, an assistant commissioner with the London Fire Brigade, said the fire caused power outages in a wide area, affecting homes and businesses. Emergency teams are working to fix the issue as quickly as possible.
With Heathrow closed for a full day, significant delays and disruptions are expected across the UK’s air travel network, leaving many travelers stranded.