London’s Heathrow airport has been forced to close after a nearby fire caused a power outage, disrupting scheduled flights and bringing turmoil to global travel.
The UK’s main airport, one of the world’s busiest international flight hubs, said it would shut down operations on Friday after a blaze at an electricity substation supplying the airport caused a “significant power outage”. More than 16,000 homes in west London are without electricity.
The London Fire Brigade dispatched firefighters late on Thursday to tackle the blaze in Hayes, near Heathrow. The cause of the fire is unknown.
“This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” said assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne.
