A short while ago, Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, ground to a halt following a major power outage triggered by a fire at an electrical substation. The unprecedented closure, effective until 11:59 PM, has thrown travel plans into disarray, with authorities urging passengers to stay away and contact their airlines for updates.

The incident began early Friday when emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the substation supplying power to the airport. Efforts to contain the blaze disrupted electricity to critical systems, forcing a full shutdown of operations. Flights have been canceled or diverted, and terminals sit eerily quiet as staff work to manage the fallout. The airport, which typically handles over 200,000 passengers daily, has warned that the disruption could ripple into the weekend.

Compounding the chaos, road closures on the M25 between Junctions 10 and 11 are scheduled from 9 PM on March 21 until 6 AM on March 24 for unrelated maintenance. This overlap has sparked fears of gridlock around West London, further isolating the airport from road access. Travelers have been advised to explore alternative routes or delay journeys entirely.

Heathrow officials are collaborating with energy providers to restore power, but no firm timeline beyond the 11:59 PM deadline has been confirmed. For now, passengers face uncertainty, with airlines scrambling to rebook flights and manage stranded travelers.