International

Heathrow airport closed after major fire disrupts flights

Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the UK, was temporarily closed on Friday, March 21, 2025, due to a major fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, located about 2.5 kilometers from the airport.

According to Sky News, a significant portion of the airport lost power, leading to the suspension of all flights until 23:59 local time (02:00, Moldova time).

Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 reported that at least 120 planes currently in the air or scheduled to land at Heathrow would be redirected to other airports, as stated by DW. Passengers were advised not to head to Heathrow and to contact airlines for more information.

Authorities explained that the fire affected a transformer, and the cause is under investigation. Ten fire trucks and approximately 70 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to the scene.

Images from the scene showed a massive column of flames and a dense cloud of black smoke, while authorities evacuated 150 people and established a 200-meter safety perimeter. Over 16,000 homes were at risk of losing power.

The fire brigade received more than 190 emergency calls, and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut because of the heavy smoke.

Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest international transport hubs, with more than 83.9 million passengers recorded in 2024, and a plane departing or landing every 45 seconds.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Eliza Mihalache

Eliza Mihalache

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