Stranded passengers are advised to contact their airlines and not to travel to the airport
The Heathrow Airport chaos continues as the Hayes electrical substation fire has left the West London airport powerless. It’s affected over 1,300 flights due to depart from and arrive at the airport.
It comes after a ‘massive explosion’ saw 25,000 litres of cooling oil burst into flames at North Hyde electrical substation late last night (Thursday, March 20). It left 67,000 homes powerless, but this has since dropped to around 4,000.
More than 70 firefighters spread across 10 fire engines tackling the blaze, which has been under control, since about 6.30am, although ten per cent of the substation is still on fire.
MyLondon reporter Ines Santos, who was at the scene, reported breathing difficulties and said that there is ‘still a strong smell of smoke in the air’ and that ‘it’s not going away’.
The airport is without power and will remain shut until tomorrow, when flights should resume as normal. Shocking photos show the fire in full swing, which engulfed the substation and led to a power outage across parts of west London.
Heathrow Airport, British Airways, and politicians including PM Sir Keir Starmer all told travellers to not go to Heathrow Airport, and to get the latest updates from their airlines. MyLondon has explained how to claim a refund if you have been affected
Shocked and stranded passengers also complained of local hotels profiteering off the carnage. In one case prices rocketed by over 300 per cent, from £90 up to £280.
Severe delays continue on the Elizabeth Line, with Hayes and Harlington Station completely powerless, meaning travellers cannot tap in or out. Local roads are also facing closures, so avoid heading that way unless absolutely necessary.
A local resident, who did not want to be named, said she heard a “massive explosion” just before midnight. All the power went off, she said, adding that she could see a “massive fire” through a front window.
“It just smelled like burning,” she said, adding that it was difficult to work out where exactly the fire was.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.
“Thanks to their efforts and coordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread.
“We will maintain a presence at the scene throughout the day, assisting the National Grid as they assess the site.
“The fire has caused a widespread power outage, affecting many homes, local businesses, and Heathrow Airport. While power has been restored to some properties, we continue to work closely with our partners to minimise disruption.
“Firefighters safely evacuated 29 people from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon was established, with around 150 people evacuated.
“Due to the significant smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as some smoke will remain for a number of hours today. Scientific advisors will also be on-site this morning to conduct further assessments and monitor the air quality.
“Our Control Officers handled more than 200 emergency calls, providing guidance and reassurance to the public.
“As the morning progresses, disruption is expected to continue, and we urge people to avoid the area whenever possible.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 11.59pm on March 21 2025. We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.
“We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available. We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We are currently supporting emergency services colleagues at the scene of a fire in Hayes. Please try and avoid the area and if you live nearby, stay indoors and keep windows closed.”
