UK's largest airport shuts down!
Is Russia behind it?
It’s Friday, and while you’re cruising into the weekend, the UK’s largest airport has hit an unexpected pause. Yep, flights grounded, chaos unleashed, and travelers questioning their life choices at overpriced airport cafes.
What happened?
And more importantly, how bad is it?
Buckle up, we’re diving into the shutdown saga.
📌 Fire shuts Heathrow Airport for at least 24 hours
Heathrow Airport is in complete shutdown after an electrical substation fire in west London caused a massive power outage.
The fire, which erupted late Thursday, has grounded over 1,350 flights, affecting more than 220,000 passengers. With planes and travelers scattered across the world, disruption is expected to last for days.
Flights bound for Heathrow have been diverted to European cities like Amsterdam and Frankfurt, while some were forced to turn back mid-air to places like New York and Mumbai. Airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India have been hit hardest.The chaos has sparked comparisons to 9/11 and the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud of 2010. Frustrated passengers are stranded, with some stuck in airports due to visa restrictions.
With power still out for thousands of homes in west London, questions are mounting about Heathrow’s backup systems. The government is expected to investigate how such a critical failure happened.
📌What happened next?
No trains are running to or from Heathrow, and all terminals are closed.
Elizabeth Line: Trains won’t go beyond Hayes & Harlington. Services from Abbey Wood to Heathrow T4 now stop at Hayes & Harlington, and Shenfield to Heathrow T5 trains end there too. Limited services are running, so expect busy stations.
Heathrow Express: No trains are operating between London Paddington and Heathrow. A shuttle is helping people leave the airport.
Alternative Travel: Your rail ticket is valid on London Buses and the Piccadilly Line towards Paddington. If your flight is rescheduled, your train ticket remains valid. Passengers with diverted flights to Manchester can use Northern services at no extra cost.
📌 Airline stocks plunge after the incident
UK stocks took a hit on Friday, with travel and leisure shares tumbling after a massive power outage at Heathrow Airport caused travel chaos.
The FTSE 100 slipped 0.46%, though it’s still set to end the week slightly higher after two weeks of losses. The mid-cap FTSE 250 also dipped 0.47%.
The Heathrow blackout, caused by a fire at an electrical substation, disrupted flights worldwide. British Airways-owner IAG lost 1%, while other airlines like Wizz Air and EasyJet dropped up to 2%. Holiday Inn-owner IHG also fell 2.7%.
Beyond travel, JD Sports slid 4.3% after Nike’s weak outlook, and pub chain J D Wetherspoon plunged 9% due to disappointing profits. On the upside, ASOS soared nearly 25% after forecasting better profits.
📌 Some are guessing Russia is involved. But why?
That’s the big question as counter-terrorism police lead the investigation into a fire at the North Hyde electrical substation, which caused London’s busiest airport to shut down for the entire day.
Western officials have long accused Russia of staging sabotage attacks across Europe to create instability and weaken support for Ukraine. While Moscow denies any involvement, experts are examining whether this fire fits the pattern of previous suspected Russian-linked disruptions.
Security analyst Will Geddes points out that targeting a critical power source for a major airport would be a strategic move for any hostile nation.
Similar incidents, such as railway fires in France before the 2024 Paris Olympics, have raised concerns about state-sponsored attacks.
Adding to the chaos, Heathrow’s switch from diesel backups to a Net Zero alternative has been blamed for the prolonged shutdown.
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See ya👋
