Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports, has resumed operations after being shut down for almost an entire day due to a fire at a nearby power station.
In a statement on Friday night, Heathrow Airport authorities confirmed that flight operations had restarted, crediting the efforts of airport staff and power service workers for the quick recovery.
According to the schedule, 1,351 flights carrying around 291,000 passengers were supposed to take off and land at Heathrow on Friday. However, due to the power outage, many flights were diverted to other airports across the UK and Europe.
Heathrow’s Chief Executive, Thomas Oldby, told Reuters, “A very limited number of flights operated today (Friday). We hope to return to normal operations by Saturday. We sincerely apologize to all passengers affected by this disruption.”
The fire at an electrical substation near the airport on Thursday led to a complete power outage, making flight operations impossible. As a result, both passengers and airlines faced unprecedented difficulties.
Following an initial investigation, police confirmed that there were no signs of sabotage, while fire officials suspected the blaze was caused by a short circuit.
Due to the nearly 24-hour shutdown, airlines suffered significant financial losses, with some considering legal action against the airport authorities for compensation. One airline executive questioned Heathrow’s preparedness, stating, “How is it possible that such a crucial airport lacks a backup power system?”
When asked about the issue, Thomas Oldby admitted that power supply was a weak point for Heathrow. “Sometimes, despite all our capabilities, unforeseen crises can occur. This was one of those situations,” he said.
The UK’s Transport Minister, Heidi Alexander, supported Heathrow’s management, stating, “The incident was beyond the airport’s control. However, they responded promptly, and I hope they will recover fully soon.”