Heathrow Airport will remain closed for at least 24 hours, according to an announcement on March 21
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London’s Heathrow Airport will remain closed for at least 24 hours due to a “significant” power outage.
On Friday, March 21, a representative for England’s busiest airport announced in a post on X that a fire had occurred at the nearby electrical substation they rely on for power, causing a mass loss of power.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” the X post read. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Heathrow Airport didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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A statement provided to CNN confirmed that the situation is expected to affect travel for the next few days.
“We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,” the statement said, adding that they “do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.”
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to the fire at the electrical substation on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, after being alerted at around 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday, the London Fire Brigade said in a press release.
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They discovered that a transformer within the substation was alight, but there were no reports of any injuries. The blaze was brought under control by 6:28 a.m.
“The fire has caused a widespread power outage, affecting many homes, local businesses, and Heathrow Airport,” Assistant Commissioner, Pat Goulbourne, said in a statement, per the release.
“While power has been restored to some properties, we continue to work closely with our partners to minimize disruption.
“Firefighters safely evacuated 29 people from neighboring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-meter cordon was established, with around 150 people evacuated,” Goulbourne continued. “Due to the significant smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as some smoke will remain for a number of hours today.”
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Scientific advisors are arriving on-site to assess and monitor the air quality, according to the press release.
At least 1,351 flights to and from the airport will be affected by Heathrow’s closure, the flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported.
British Airways, Air India, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Scandinavian Airlines System, Ryanair, and Singapore Airlines are among those who’ve made amendments to flights due to the travel chaos caused by the fire, according to Reuters.
“Following the closure, seven United flights returned to their origin or to other airports, and Friday flights to London Heathrow have been canceled. We are continuing to work with our customers to offer alternative travel options,” a United Airlines spokesperson told PEOPLE.
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines confirmed to PEOPLE that 10 departures from Heathrow were canceled, adding “Due to the power outage and subsequent closure of London’s Heathrow Airport, Delta has suspended operations to LHR and provided customers additional flexibility in rebooking their travel.”
Meanwhile, a representative for British Airways confirmed to PEOPLE their inbound flights that were already on their way to Heathrow are being redirected and all customers are being contacted.
