Heathrow closure latest: Counter-terrorism police investigating fire that shut Heathrow - as airport says 'no clarity' on when power will be restored

Sky News

21-03-2025

Heathrow Airport is shut all day after an "unprecedented" fire hit a nearby substation. Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the fire - with thousands of people hit by cancellations and power cuts. Live reporting by Ollie Cooper, Mark Wyatt and Kieren Williams
15:36:51
'Unprecedented situation' will have huge impact for 'many days to come', BA chief warns
We can bring you a statement from the chief executive of British Airways now.
The airline has been the worst hit by the Heathrow shutdown - responsible for 51% of flights affected, an aviation analytics firm has said.
Describing the shutdown of Heathrow as an "unprecedented situation", Sean Doyle said there would be a "huge impact" over the coming days.
He warned that even when power is restored, services won't just immediately resume as before.
"To give you an idea of the scale of disruption we face which we're working to minimise, today we were due to operate more than 670 flights carrying around 107,000 customers, with similar numbers planned over the weekend," he said.
15:35:01
Your stories: 'I'm stuck in Kuwait and start my new job on Monday'
Among the passengers stranded across the globe are Lloyd and his girlfriend in Kuwait.
"We were two hours into our Kuwait to Heathrow flight when it suddenly U-turned without explanation, causing panic and confusion."
The captain then informed them of the Heathrow fire and that they would be returning to Kuwait.
"We have no idea when we will be going back home, zero guidance, zero communication.
"We have luckily been put into an airport hotel and told to wait here until we get told to get on a plane.
"Very unsettling and frustrating. Not to mention I start a new job on Monday! Absolute shambles."
Meanwhile, traveller Lynne is stuck in Hong Kong.
She's been in the airport for 13 hours and says she has been given an unhelpful ultimatum by Cathay Pacific Airlines.
They offered to take her to any other European country tomorrow, but she would have to pay for her own way back to the UK from there, she claimed.
"They gave us no help at all, no food, no drinks."
15:25:01
Ryanair criticised over cost of 'rescue flights'
Earlier, we told you Ryanair had announced eight "rescue flights" for passengers affected by the Heathrow closure (see 8.45am post).
But people have been taking to social media to point out the relatively high cost of some of the flights.
Screenshots posted from the Ryanair app show the cheapest flight between Stansted and Dublin at £82.47, while the most expensive is listed at £268.72.
"Where's the £20 flights?" one wrote in the comments under Ryanair's announcement, while another accused the airline of "profiteering from other people's misfortune".
15:10:01
Number 10: 'Questions to be answered'
A bit of political reaction incoming now.
Number 10 has said there are questions to be answered about how the substation fire caused so much chaos at Heathrow.
It confirmed a "cross-government call" took place this morning.
"We expect those questions to be answered but our clarity right now is on this incident being appropriately dealt with," a spokesperson added.
They continued: "There is a fire still burning. So, there will be a time for that, but at the moment the priority is to deal with the incident."
It was also said that it "wouldn't be unreasonable to expect checks on resilience" were being carried out at other major airports.
14:55:04
Your stories: 'My diabetic son is stranded in Mumbai with limited insulin'
A worried Warwick mother has told Sky News she and her diabetic son are stranded in Mumbai with "very limited insulin".
Sharon and Raj were supposed to board a flight at 1.10pm to Heathrow with British Airways, but have received no emails or other communication from the airline since it was cancelled, she said.
"My son is type one diabetic and only has very limited insulin for the next few hours," said Sharon.
Sky News has contacted BA for comment.
'Outrageous' hotel prices
Meanwhile, more reports of hotel price gouging are rolling in.
Issac Wilson, whose flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, was cancelled, said a similar room to the one he booked for £69 tonight is being listed at £464 tomorrow.
"Many people seem to be travelling out of the area via bus and taxi as hotels are now at full capacity or have rooms being offered at outrageous prices."
14:55:01
Putin ally suggests UK will blame Russia for Heathrow substation fire
As is inevitable with major incidents such as today's, the fire that forced the closure of Heathrow has prompted an avalanche of unfounded speculation in some corners of the internet.
Undeterred - or perhaps encouraged - by this proliferation of theories online, a prominent ally of Vladimir Putin has apparently pre-empted any suggestion that Moscow might have had any involvement.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and currently deputy chair of the country's security council, said on X: "I'm looking forward to Russia being blamed for the Heathrow fire. What are you waiting for, Starmer?"
It should be noted here that, as we have reported, the Metropolitan Police says there is no evidence of foul play and counter-terrorism police are involved because of the scale of the impact, not because there is any suggestion it was deliberate.
Medvedev is notorious for making frequent and dire threats to both Ukraine and the West, and while some commentators have suggested his public statements can offer hints as to the thinking inside the Kremlin, experts rarely attach huge significance to his typically alarmist remarks.
14:45:01
Around the world in disrupted airports: From Mumbai to Rome
Such is the interconnected nature of the world's transport system that the chaos sparked at Heathrow has had ramifications globally.
Below are images from across the world, from Paris to Mumbai, of passengers left struggling to get to their destination.
14:36:56
Power appears to be back on at Terminal 4
A bit of good news coming in now.
Power appears to be back on at Terminal 4.
It was one of two terminals, along with Terminal 2, that had been left without power after initial efforts this morning.
But it would appear to have power once more.
Lights are on in the main building and lifts are working in the multi-storey car park as well.
14:35:01
Your stories: An extra night in a hotel? Try a tent in the snow
Most people will be spending an extra night in a hotel after their flights were cancelled - but not Jordan Wylie MBE.
The adventurer will be sleeping another night in a tent in the Swedish snow before making a three-stop flight when Heathrow reopens.
He told Sky News he has been training for a "world first" attempt to climb a series of unnamed peaks in Antarctica to raise money for the Army Cadet Charitable Trust UK.
"I have to now fly from Northern Sweden to Stockholm to Frankfurt to Heathrow but not for at least 24 hours they said at Scandinavia Airlines," he said.
His project, named Antarctic Odyssey, aims to raise £100,000 and will see Jordan embark on an expedition into the southernmost region of Antarctica's Ellsworth Mountains in December.