Heathrow Airport in London has been shut down all day following a devastating electrical fire, triggering massive power outages and plunging the travel industry into chaos.

With hundreds of thousands of passengers affected, experts warn the disruption could last for days, causing ripple effects across the globe.

Electrical substation exploded

During the early hours of Friday, a shocking announcement was posted on Heathrow’s official X account:

”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 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”

A Heathrow spokesperson also told British  that flight disruptions are expected to last for several days.

There is no fire at Heathrow itself, but a nearby blaze has disrupted operations to the point that the airport cannot remain open. According to Sky , the fire started in a transformer building in Hayes, roughly two kilometers (1.2 miles) from Heathrow. The airport’s main electrical substation exploded, causing the severe power outage.