Heathrow Airport Restores Power Seven Hours Before Flight Resumption

An interim report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) revealed that after a substation fire caused Heathrow Airport's closure in March, power was restored to all passenger terminals by 10:56 a.m., but flights did not resume until roughly seven hours later following extensive safety checks. The fire at the North Hyde substation disrupted more than 270,000 passenger journeys, causing widespread travel chaos and business disruption. The report indicated that two supergrid transformers tripped in quick succession, but the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, though investigators have ruled out suspicious activity. Heathrow officials and government figures have called for further clarity from National Grid and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) regarding the incident and the resilience of the airport's power supply. Prior to the shutdown, concerns about the airport's power reliability had been raised, including incidents of wire and cable theft affecting operations. The investigation is ongoing, with hopes that the final report will address unanswered questions about the fire and measures to prevent future disruptions.