By Abiola Olawale
A palpable panic has gripped Heathrow Airport, including workers, travellers, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, after a massive power outage brought operations to a grinding halt on Friday.
According to the airport authorities, the outage was triggered by a substation fire just outside the airport’s perimeter, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, flights grounded, and authorities scrambling to restore order.
It was gathered that the problem began in the early hours of Friday when emergency services were said to have received reports of smoke billowing from an electrical substation near Terminal 5.
According to reports, within minutes, flames engulfed the facility, cutting power to critical airport systems, including check-in desks, security checkpoints, and air traffic control.
In a statement issued by Heathrow Airport management, this develpoment made officials resolved to suspend all inbound and outbound flights, citing safety concerns as backup generators struggled to cope with the demand.
The statement reads in part: “Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Also, British Airways, which operates a major hub at Heathrow, cancelled over 100 flights and urged passengers to avoid the airport until further notice. “We’re doing everything we can to support our customers during this disruption,” British Airways said.
