Heathrow Airport Expects Full Operations Saturday After Substation Fire Disrupts Flights
London’s Heathrow Airport anticipates a return to normal functionality on Saturday, according to the airport’s chief executive officer. This announcement follows a significant disruption on Friday caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation, which authorities are currently treating as non-suspicious.
Power Outage Triggers Travel Chaos
The blaze at the high-voltage facility resulted in a power failure at the major London airport early Friday. This incident led to widespread travel chaos, with over 1,000 flights grounded and approximately 200,000 travelers affected.
Optimism for Swift Recovery
After roughly 18 hours of operational standstill at the usually bustling airport, officials expressed optimism that the situation had been contained.
CEO Apologizes for Disruption, Announces Normal Service
“We are projecting a return to complete operational capacity by tomorrow morning, essentially 100% of our usual daily service,” stated Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye during a Friday evening press briefing.
Woldbye extended an apology, saying, “I would like to express my regret to all those individuals whose journeys have been impacted today. We sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience experienced.”
Passengers Advised to Arrive On Time Saturday
Passengers scheduled to depart from Heathrow on Saturday are advised to arrive as planned for their flights. A limited number of flights resumed operations later on Friday after the complete shutdown was lifted.
Lingering Delays Expected
Despite the resumption of flights, aviation consultant Anita Mendiratta cautioned that disruptions from the shutdown are expected to persist for several days. Airlines face the logistical challenge of repositioning aircraft, managing cargo, and reorganizing flight crews, in addition to rebooking affected passengers.
“The focus extends beyond just restarting tomorrow’s flight schedule; it encompasses addressing the existing backlog and the cascading impacts,” Mendiratta explained.
Fire Deemed Non-Suspicious, Investigation Ongoing
While the precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, the Metropolitan Police have stated, “Following initial assessment, we are not treating this incident as suspicious.”
Counter Terrorism Command Leading Enquiries
Commander Simon Messinger issued a statement clarifying, “Due to the substation’s location and the repercussions of this event on essential national infrastructure, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is taking the lead in our inquiries.”
Russian Official Speculates on Blame
Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s security council and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, attempted to inject international tension into the situation. He posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Russia would be falsely accused of causing the fire, referencing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Fire Partially Contained, Evacuees Return Home
As of Friday evening, authorities indicated that approximately 5% of the fire, confined to isolated hotspots, remained active.
Local residents who had been evacuated were subsequently permitted to return to their residences.
Power Restoration
The incident initially resulted in power loss for around 67,000 customers.
Local Resident Observes Unusual Quiet
Resident’s Perspective
James Henderson, a resident living near Heathrow for 20 years, commented on the unusual calm: “Living close to Heathrow means constant noise – planes every 90 seconds or so, plus the continuous hum of traffic, but you become accustomed to it, to the point where you no longer notice it.”
“Today is different; the silence is noticeable, and you can hear birdsong.”