• London’s Heathrow Airport has announced a complete shutdown because of a power outage due to a large fire nearby, causing massive disruption to one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.
• Heathrow’s closure is expected to affect more than 1,300 flights. An airline analytics firm estimated that “upwards of 145,000” passengers could be impacted, and Heathrow is warning of significant disruption in the coming days. Trains around Heathrow have also been disrupted.
• Heathrow’s backup power supply was also affected by the fire, Britain’s energy secretary said. He said it was too soon to say if the incident showed anything about the safety of critical infrastructure in Britain.
• The large blaze near Heathrow will be a “prolonged incident” with disruption for residents in the area expected to increase, according to the London Fire Brigade. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, it said. The UK’s energy minister said there was “no suggestion” of foul play.
London’s Heathrow Airport shuts down due to power outage, triggering global travel chaos
