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Electrical Accident Sets London’s Heathrow Airport on Fire

  • Writer: Riya Kunatham
    Riya Kunatham
  • Mar 24
  • 2 min read

Image via Getty Images
Image via Getty Images

The world’s fifth busiest airport, Heathrow Airport, experienced its most prominent tragedy this Friday–delaying over one thousand flights and stranding passengers in London. Britain’s energy ministry commissioned the National Energy System Operator that Saturday to investigate what could’ve caused the infrastructure’s disruption to create a fire. 


The airport claimed that over thirteen hundred flights would resume the following Sunday, operating on full schedule again. However, British Airways received word that the impact would take at least a few days to relieve, offering compensation to all travelers affected by Friday’s disaster. 


The fire at a nearby electrical substation resulted in many flights already deported to turn back or land at another airport and dealt with over 291,000 passengers. The police released a statement ensuring the situation was nothing out of the ordinary, however, the investigations remain ongoing. While the fire was claimed to be accidental, many authorities worry about Britain’s infrastructure and whether it may cause troubles in the future. 


While this significant event led to concern about the people’s safety, politicians spoke to engineers and professors about this tragedy, and how it’s a sign that represents Britain’s deteriorating society and how its electrical infrastructure may lead to more accidents and fires in the future. 


Losing all power left the passengers stranded in the dark with an inadequate supply of generators or batteries for the airport. Many similar cases have arisen in the US, and officials have learned to remain calm and inform the passengers of any major setbacks before chaos can ensue. While London is the only city impacted by this disruption, no lives were lost as a result of the fire, and aims to serve as a reminder that it is essential to be prepared and remain calm in all situations. 


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