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The fourth busiest airport globally, Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, has been closed, causing widespread disruption to international travel and posing significant challenges for business travelers.
The closure will persist until 11:59 p.m. GMT on Friday due to a substantial fire that led to a power outage in the vicinity of the airport, according to reports from Reuters.
An airport spokesperson stated, “While fire crews are managing the situation, we currently lack information on when power can be safely restored. To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, we have opted to keep Heathrow closed until 23:59 on March 21, 2025.”
The spokesperson further noted, “We anticipate considerable disruption in the coming days, and we advise passengers not to travel to the airport until it reopens.”
Heathrow recorded approximately 5.7 million passengers in February 2025, marking the busiest February on record. In 2024, the airport reached a historic high, accommodating 83.9 million travelers, as reported by Reuters.
According to NBC, an estimated 200,000 passengers and 1,300 flights are likely to be impacted by this disruption. The outage has resulted from a fire at an electrical substation that provides power to Heathrow.
As a safety precaution, the airport will remain closed until 11:59 p.m. GMT on March 21. Passengers are urged to refrain from traveling to the airport during this time. pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025
What Led to the Fire at Heathrow Airport?
According to BBC reports, the fire originated from an electrical substation situated in Hayes, West London, late on Thursday evening and was brought under control by 6:28 a.m. GMT on Friday.
Nearby residences were also evacuated as a precautionary measure due to the incident.
This is an ongoing news story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
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