LONDON (AP) — The inaugural aircraft touched down at Heathrow Airport late Friday evening, approximately 18 hours following a fire outbreak at an electrical substation that triggered a major power failure, effectively shutting down Europe’s busiest london-stock-exchange-by-storm-on-investors-day/” title=”Deputy President Paulus Mashatile Takes London Stock Exchange by Storm on Investors' Day”>airport.
The British Airways flight landed just before dusk after the airport retracted its closure notice, which had thrown global travel plans into disarray for countless passengers.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar 24 reported that over 1,350 flights in both directions were affected by this incident. The reverberations from this disruption are expected to persist for several days as travelers attempt to modify their itineraries and airlines scramble to reposition jets and crew members.
While authorities have yet to ascertain the cause of the blaze, they have indicated there are currently no signs suggesting foul play was involved.
Residents nearby in west London recounted hearing a deafening blast followed by a fireball and plumes of smoke as flames engulfed the electrical facility adjacent to the airport.
An estimated 120 flights were airborne when authorities announced the shutdown; some planes were redirected back while others landed at Gatwick Airport outside of London, Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris, or Shannon Airport in Ireland according to tracking reports.
Lawrence Hayes found himself nearly arriving in London from New York when Virgin Atlantic informed passengers their destination had changed to Glasgow. ”I’d been awake forever because it was a red-eye flight,” he shared with BBC News once he disembarked in Scotland. “Fortunately, I managed to reach my wife who graciously booked me a train back home. It’s going to be an exceptionally long day.”
As one of the world’s most frequented international airports, Heathrow witnessed record passenger levels earlier this year with over 6.3 million travelers in January alone—a rise exceeding 5% compared to last year’s figures during that month.
This incident’s disturbance paled in comparison to the extensive fallout caused by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption back in 2010 which resulted in protracted transatlantic air travel disruption due to ash clouds blanketing airspace for months on end.
Causation Under Investigation: No Signs of Negligence
The source of the significant fire just two miles (roughly three kilometers) from Heathrow remains undetermined. However, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated there is “no evidence” pointing toward malicious activity being involved.”
The Metropolitan Police department disclosed that counterterrorism investigators would spearhead inquiries due not only their expertise but also because of how critical infrastructure has been impacted.
Heathrow assured that its emergency power backup system functioned correctly; nonetheless it fell short of sustaining operations throughout such a vast facility compelling it inevitably close for business on that day.
“We anticipate considerable disruptions continuing over subsequent days; therefore we advise against any travel towards our airport until we officially reopen,” declared airport officials.”
This widespread disturbance raised alarm bells regarding Britain’s preparedness against disasters or potential attacks considering how one single fire could incapacitate Europe’s leading air hub.
“The U.K.’s vital national frameworks lack adequate resilience needed for situations like these,” remarked Alan Mendoza from the Henry Jackson Society—a security policy think tank—adding “If merely one incident can halt all operations at Heathrow shows systemic failures requiring urgent attention.”
A spokesperson representing Prime Minister Keir Starmer recognized immediate questions must be addressed stating thorough investigation efforts were essential so similar disruptions do not occur again.”
Prolonged Disruption Anticipated
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