One of the world’s largest airports is closed today.
Heathrow Airport in London has been shut down following a devastating electrical fire that triggered massive power outages, causing chaos in the travel industry.
With hundreds of thousands of passengers affected, experts warn that the disruption could last for days, causing ripple effects worldwide.
Electrical Substation Explosion
In the early hours of Friday, Heathrow’s official social media account made a shocking announcement:
“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 23:59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
A Heathrow spokesperson later told British media that flight disruptions are expected to continue for several days.
Although there was no fire at Heathrow itself, a nearby blaze severely disrupted airport operations. According to Sky News, the fire started in a transformer building in Hayes, about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the airport. The explosion of the airport’s main electrical substation caused the power outage.
Around 200,000 passengers were expected to travel through Heathrow today, but the airport’s closure has created major disruptions that could last through the weekend and beyond.
The fire began around 11:30 PM on Thursday night, and despite firefighters working overnight to control it, part of the transformer building is still burning. Police have declared a major incident, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause.
By morning, the fire was extinguished, but specialist firefighters remained on the scene, using breathing apparatus to dampen the area.
“This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible,” said Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne.
The decision to shut down the airport due to the failure of a single substation raises serious concerns. While Heathrow officials confirmed that backup power systems are in place, activating these contingencies takes time and is not an immediate solution.
According to the Daily Mail, at least 1,357 flights have been canceled, diverted, or delayed. Some flights en route to London have landed at other airports, but many, including Gatwick, are now at full capacity.
As the chaos unfolds, other European airports are preparing for an influx of planes that are too far along in their flights to turn back and must now be rerouted.
Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel, had a record-breaking January this year, welcoming over 6.3 million passengers—an increase of more than 5% compared to the same time last year. It was also the 11th consecutive month the airport handled an average of over 200,000 passengers per day, with transatlantic flights contributing significantly to the surge.
In addition to the flight disruptions, rail services to and from Heathrow have been canceled for Friday, according to National Rail.
Lucky Colors for the 12 Zodiac Signs
Each zodiac sign has specific lucky colors that can enhance positive energy, bring good fortune, and boost confidence. Here are the lucky colors for each sign:
♈ Aries (March 21 – April 19)
🔥 Lucky Colors: Red, Orange, Scarlet
🔺 Why? These bold and fiery colors enhance Aries’ passion, confidence, and leadership.
♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
🌿 Lucky Colors: Green, Pink, Earthy Tones
🔺 Why? Green symbolizes growth and stability, while pink brings harmony and love.
♊ Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
💛 Lucky Colors: Yellow, Light Green, White
🔺 Why? These colors boost Gemini’s communication skills, creativity, and adaptability.
♋ Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
🌊 Lucky Colors: Silver, White, Light Blue
🔺 Why? These soothing colors reflect Cancer’s emotional depth, intuition, and connection to the moon.
♌ Leo (July 23 – August 22)
☀️ Lucky Colors: Gold, Orange, Yellow
🔺 Why? These royal and radiant colors highlight Leo’s charisma, confidence, and strength.
♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
🌾 Lucky Colors: Green, Brown, Beige
🔺 Why? Earthy and natural tones enhance Virgo’s practicality, wisdom, and sense of order.
♎ Libra (September 23 – October 22)
🎀 Lucky Colors: Pink, Blue, Pastel Shades
🔺 Why? These colors promote Libra’s sense of balance, love, and diplomacy.
♏ Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
🖤 Lucky Colors: Black, Dark Red, Burgundy
🔺 Why? These deep colors represent Scorpio’s mystery, intensity, and transformation.
♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
💜 Lucky Colors: Purple, Royal Blue, Dark Yellow
🔺 Why? These colors enhance Sagittarius’ adventurous, spiritual, and optimistic nature.
♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
🖤 Lucky Colors: Black, Gray, Dark Green
🔺 Why? These colors reflect Capricorn’s discipline, ambition, and grounded energy.
♒ Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
🔵 Lucky Colors: Blue, Electric Blue, Silver
🔺 Why? These colors enhance Aquarius’ innovation, originality, and connection to the future.
♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
🌊 Lucky Colors: Sea Green, Lavender, Aqua
🔺 Why? These dreamy colors boost Pisces’ creativity, intuition, and emotional depth.
Using these lucky colors in clothing, accessories, or surroundings can help attract positive energy and success! 😊✨