London Heathrow Airport Closes Due to Substation Fire; Counterterrorism Police Investigate | WPN World People News

London Heathrow Airport, the largest airport in the UK, was recently forced to close after a fire broke out at a nearby substation, causing power outages in parts of the airport. Due to the widespread impact of the incident, UK counterterrorism police have launched an investigation to determine whether sabotage or other security threats were involved.

According to reports from the BBC, The Guardian, and The Independent, the fire broke out on the evening of March 22 at a substation in west London, near Heathrow Airport. The power supply to the airport was affected, plunging some terminals into darkness and severely disrupting operations. Many flights were canceled or delayed, affecting thousands of passengers.

The UK National Grid stated that the fire caused a temporary failure of the main power lines at the substation, leading to unstable electricity supply at the airport and in surrounding areas. Firefighters rushed to the scene and took several hours to bring the fire under control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Given that substations are critical infrastructure, UK authorities are treating the incident with high priority. The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command has taken over the investigation and is working with intelligence agencies to assess whether the fire was the result of deliberate sabotage or a terrorist attack. While police have stated that there is no clear evidence linking the incident to terrorism at this time, they are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, airport authorities are working with relevant agencies to restore power and resume normal flight operations as soon as possible.

Due to the power outage, some flights at Heathrow Airport were canceled, and terminals became overcrowded with passengers waiting for updates. Many travelers expressed frustration over the lack of clear information. One passenger, who was scheduled to fly to New York, told the Daily Mail: "We've been stuck at the airport for hours, and no one can tell us what to do next."

Heathrow Airport officials posted on social media that technical teams were working around the clock to restore power. They also advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Airlines have begun coordinating rescheduling and compensation measures to minimize disruption to travelers.

The incident has once again raised concerns about airport security and the stability of the UK's critical infrastructure. As one of the busiest aviation hubs in Europe, Heathrow Airport handles over 80 million passengers annually, meaning any infrastructure failure can have severe consequences. Experts are urging the government to strengthen the protection of key facilities to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.