Why is Heathrow airport closed after the fire breakout , click to know:

Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest international travel hubs, went through a major disturbance on Thursday night after a fire break out at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London. The fire triggered a significant power outage, forcing the airport to stop all flight operations and causing unavoidable travel circumstances worldwide.

The fire at the North Hyde electrical substation supported in the failure of both main and backup power systems at the airport. More than 1,300 flights were either canceled or their routes were changed, affecting around 200,000 passengers. Many flights were rerouted to alternative or near by airports, including Gatwick, Shannon, and Paris, leading to widespread delays and logistical complications.

Emergency responders, including 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines, worked hard to control the huge fire fueled by approximately 25,000 liters of oil. While the London Fire Brigade in time commanded to extinguish the flames after several hours, the damage was serious, leaving thousands of homes—along with the airport—without power.

Throughout the night, airport authorities worked to restore essential services. By Friday evening, limited flight operations that were paused were started again, prioritizing stranded passengers and relocating aircraft, Heathrow officials expressed confidence in fully starting normal operations by Saturday, reassuring travelers that passenger safety should be at the top priority by the team.

The incident has raised methods to deal with the vulnerability of critical airport infrastructure. The fact that a single substation fire could bring Heathrow to a standstill has led to urgent analysis about making up a better backup power systems and overall strong infrastructure flexibility, While there is no evidence of foul play, counter-terrorism officers are investigating due to the sensitive nature of the affected infrastructure.

The financial effect of the tragedy is estimated to run into tens of millions of pounds. Airlines had a tough time repositioning aircraft and crew, while passengers on the flights faced significant setbacks and difficulties in rebooking flights. The situation has also evolved debates over liability and recompense for those affected.

Passengers are suggested to track the changed schedules on flight schedules through official broadcasting channels and check with their airlines before traveling to Heathrow. Airport authorities are passionately working to mitigate the impact of the tragedy and assure better preparedness for future emergencies.