By Gwurld4026 
Travel Alert: Heathrow Airport Resumes Operations Following Fire Outbreak
London’s Heathrow Airport has resumed full operations following a significant power outage caused by a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, approximately two miles from the airport. The fire, which began on March 20, 2025, led to the ignition of 25,000 litres of cooling oil, resulting in a substantial power disruption.
The outage plunged the airport into darkness, leading to the cancellation of over 1,300 flights and affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers. The incident raised concerns about the airport’s resilience and the effectiveness of the National Grid’s backup infrastructure.
In response to the incident, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband ordered an urgent investigation by the National Energy System Operator to assess the outage and review the airport’s crisis management protocols. The fire, deemed non-suspicious, was initially investigated by counter-terrorism officers but is now being led by the London Fire Brigade.
Heathrow’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, welcomed the government’s announcement of an independent investigation into the incident to prevent future disruptions. The airport has since restored operations, but the impact of cancellations and delays continues to affect passengers.
The National Grid has apologized for the disruption and is implementing measures to improve network resilience. The incident highlighted the importance of robust contingency plans for critical infrastructure to prevent similar occurrences in the future.