Fire disrupts Heathrow, halts 1,300 flights, affects 100,000 homes

A significant fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport has led to the airport's closure, affecting over 1,300 flights and disrupting travel for an estimated 145,000 passengers. The blaze, which was fueled by a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil, has caused widespread power outages, leaving around 100,000 homes without electricity. Emergency services, including 70 firefighters, have been working to control the fire, which the London Fire Brigade has stated is not suspected to involve foul play. Experts warn that the closure could have a massive impact on the UK economy, drawing parallels to past significant disruptions in air travel. Passengers have reported various travel plans being thrown into chaos, including missed weddings and cancelled trips. Heathrow Airport is expected to remain closed for the entire day as efforts continue to restore power and ensure safety.