London’s Heathrow Airport resumed operations late Friday after an 18-hour shutdown caused by a massive power outage, which had paralyzed Europe’s busiest air travel hub. The first plane to land following the disruption was a British Airways jet, touching down just before sunset after authorities lifted the closure order.
The shutdown was triggered by a fire at an electrical substation, which led to a widespread power failure, affecting critical airport systems. According to flight tracking service FlightRadar24, at least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were impacted, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded or forced to reschedule their travel plans.
The disruption is expected to have a lasting impact over the next several days, as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crews, and affected passengers seek alternative travel arrangements. Heathrow, a major international transit point, typically handles over 200,000 passengers daily, making the unexpected closure a significant global travel setback.
While power has been restored, authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and working on measures to prevent future incidents of this scale. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight schedules and potential delays in the coming days.
Sources By Agencies
