Heathrow airport faces backlash after major disruptions from substation fire

On March 22, 2025, London Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in the UK, faced significant disruptions due to a fire that broke out at a nearby electrical substation. This incident resulted in a power cut that affected the airport for most of the day, causing the cancellation of over 1,300 flights and stranding around 200,000 passengers, marking it as one of the most serious disruptions since the 2010 volcanic ash crisis. The fire, which was later determined to be non-suspicious, sparked concerns regarding the airport's preparedness and its contingency plans in case of such emergencies. In the aftermath, Heathrow's operations resumed on March 23, 2025, with airport officials announcing that it was fully operational. British Airways reported that it would be able to manage approximately 85% of its scheduled flights despite the chaos caused by the previous day's events. Passengers were advised to check their flight status prior to heading to the airport, as delays were expected to linger as airlines scrambled to relocate planes and teams over the following days. Critics of the airport have been vocal about the lack of adequate backup systems and emergency preparedness, with some referring to the incident as a 'national embarrassment.' Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Preparedness Commission, said that the closure indicated Heathrow’s unpreparedness for such incidents and the need for improved contingency plans. Meanwhile, the British government confirmed that an investigation into the incident would focus on energy resilience for critical infrastructure, addressing the vulnerabilities exposed by the fire. Due to a combination of weather conditions and high traffic, flights from Ireland, particularly from airports in Belfast and Dublin, were also significantly impacted as the effects of the substation fire rippled through air travel schedules. Meanwhile, officials maintain that the backup power systems in place worked effectively but were insufficient to serve the entire airport. The situation has raised further questions about the overall infrastructure of key transportation hubs across Britain and the way they handle emergencies.