Heathrow Defends Shutdown Amid Power Outage Backlash as Government Launches Investigation
Heathrow Airport’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has defended the airport’s decision to shut down for nearly 24 hours following last week's fire at a nearby electrical substation. Despite National Grid’s chief executive, John Pettigrew, stating that Heathrow had enough power from two remaining substations, Woldbye insisted that the shutdown was necessary to safely switch systems over. "There were a number of systems we have to shut down and then bring them back up and ensure they are safe," he explained, referring to critical functions like fueling systems and baggage handling.
The fire, which broke out at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, left more than 63,000 homes without power and disrupted Heathrow’s operations. National Grid confirmed that each of its three substations was capable of powering the airport individually, but the fire was so severe that it damaged both the main and backup transformers at North Hyde. Heathrow’s emergency diesel generators kept safety systems running, but the airport ultimately had to shut down to "reconfigure" its power supply, leading to the cancellation of around 1,300 flights and stranding passengers worldwide.
The incident has sparked frustration among airlines, with industry leaders questioning why Heathrow remained closed for so long. Willie Walsh, former British Airways boss, called it a "clear planning failure," while a 2014 report had previously warned of Heathrow’s vulnerability to power outages. The UK government has ordered a six-week investigation into the incident, led by the National Energy System Operator, with initial findings expected in May.
