Photos show grounded planes and empty terminals at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, after massive power outage

A massive power outage at London's Heathrow Airport brought operations to a halt.

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Mar 21, 2025 - 11:15
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Photos show grounded planes and empty terminals at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, after massive power outage
A traveler stands with her luggage as departure boards and other screens are dark as Heathrow airport experienced a significant power outage in the early hours of March 21, 2025 in London, England
Dark screens at Heathrow Airport.

Klara Simonova/Getty Images

  • London's Heathrow Airport shut down on Friday after a nearby fire caused a power outage.
  • Over 1,300 flights were affected by the closure.
  • Photos from the airport show dark terminals, grounded planes, and stranded travelers.

A massive power outage at London's Heathrow Airport brought operations to a halt on Friday, grounding planes at one of the world's busiest travel hubs.

Heathrow posted on X that the outage was caused by "a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport."

Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world with 83.9 million travelers in 2024, the airport said in a January press release. The outage impacted at least 1,351 flights, Flightradar24 previously told Business Insider.

Photos show Heathrow's dark, empty terminals and stranded travelers as emergency responders worked to restore power.

Heathrow Airport closed on Friday due to a power outage, snarling travel for thousands of passengers.
An almost empty Arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 4 in London.
An almost empty arrivals hall at Heathrow's Terminal 4 in London.

James Manning - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

Incoming flights that were supposed to land at Heathrow were forced to turn back or divert to other destinations.
Departure boards and other screens are dark as Heathrow airport experienced a significant power outage in the early hours of March 21, 2025 in London, England
Departure boards and other screens were dark as Heathrow Airport experienced a significant power outage.

Klara Simonova/Getty Images

Meanwhile, travelers inside the airport were left stranded when their flights were canceled.
Stranded passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 in London.
Stranded passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 in London.

James Manning - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

The normally bustling check-in counters were almost entirely empty.
A traveler stands with her luggage as departure boards and other screens are dark as Heathrow airport experienced a significant power outage in the early hours of March 21, 2025 in London, England
Dark screens at Heathrow Airport.

Klara Simonova/Getty Images

Screens inside the airport that usually display arrival and departure times went black.
Departure boards and other screens are dark as Heathrow airport experienced a significant power outage in the early hours of March 21, 2025 in London, England.
Departure boards and other screens were dark at Heathrow Airport.

Klara Simonova/Getty Images

Outside, the departure drop-off area was completely empty of travelers.
An empty departure drop off area at Heathrow Terminal 5 on March 21, 2025 in London, United Kingdom
An empty departure drop-off area at Heathrow Terminal 5.

Warren Little/Getty Images

The arrivals area also looked abandoned, with luggage carts parked in neat rows.
A photograph taken on March 21, 2025 shows trolleys lined up at the empty arrival area outside Terminal 5 of Heathrow airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London.
Trolleys were lined up at the empty arrivals area outside Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport.

BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images

Heathrow advised passengers not to travel to the airport.
An empty departure drop off area at Heathrow Terminal 5 on March 21, 2025 in London, United Kingdom
An empty departure drop-off area at Heathrow Terminal 5.

Warren Little/Getty Images

Many of the access roads were closed to traffic altogether.
A photograph taken on March 21, 2025 shows road signs reading "access closed" at the entrance of Heathrow airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London
Road signs read "Access Closed" at the entrance of Heathrow Airport.

BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images

Aerial photos showed grounded planes parked throughout the airport.
An aerial photograph taken on March 21, 2025 shows planes parked on the tarmac of Heathrow Airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London
Grounded planes at Heathrow Airport.

AFP/Getty Images

Typically, Heathrow handles 1,300 flights a day, but on Friday, runways and taxiways were empty.
An aerial photograph taken on March 21, 2025 shows planes parked on the tarmac of Heathrow Airport following its closure after a fire broke out at a substation supplying power of the airport, in Hayes, west London
Heathrow Airport amid a power outage.

AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile, firefighters are working to contain the fire at the nearby electrical substation and restore power. Heathrow anticipates "significant disruption over the coming days."
The North Hyde electrical substation which caught fire last night. More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted on Friday due to the closure of the airport following the fire
Firefighters at the North Hyde electrical substation near Heathrow Airport.

Jonathan Brady - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images

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