Heathrow Airport Reopens After Major Power Outage Affects 200,000 Passengers

Heathrow Airport experienced significant disruption following a fire at an electrical substation, which caused the airport to close and resulted in the cancellation or diversion of over 200,000 flights. CEO Thomas Woldbye expressed pride in the airport's response and acknowledged the incident's severity, but he also noted that the power substation was not part of Heathrow's infrastructure. Critics, including the director general of the International Air Transport Association, highlighted concerns about the airport's resilience and the broader issues with the UK's aging power grid. Woldbye stated that while backup systems were in place, they were insufficient to handle the scale of the outage, likening the power needs of the airport to that of a mid-sized city. The London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire is considered non-suspicious, and an investigation into the electrical equipment is underway. As operations resumed, Woldbye apologized to stranded passengers, reaffirming that such incidents highlight vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.