Heathrow Airport in London will be closed until midnight on Friday due to a significant blackout caused by a fire at an electrical substation, affecting travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers. The closure was announced on Friday, with the airport advising travelers not to head to the facility and to contact their airlines for further information. Flight tracking services indicated that the shutdown would impact over 1,300 flights, with many aircraft having to detour or return to their origin points at the time of the announcement.
The fire, which drew a response from the London Fire Service with 10 fire engines and about 70 firefighters, has also caused power outages in the surrounding area, impacting homes and businesses. Authorities established a safety perimeter and evacuated about 150 people as a precaution. Fire crews are anticipated to remain on-site overnight to control the situation. Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, handled nearly 84 million passengers last year and serves over 200 destinations globally, marking a significant disruption in travel as the effects of the closure ripple throughout international airports. Passengers are advised to stay informed about flight statuses as the situation develops.
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