London’s Heathrow Airport has suspended operations until midnight following a fire at an electrical substation in the city’s western region, which led to a major power failure. The outage has also left more than 16,000 homes without electricity.

According to British media, over 150 people have been evacuated as emergency crews work to manage the situation.

In an advisory posted on X early Friday (India time), Heathrow urged passengers not to travel to the airport and to check with their airlines for updates. “Due to a fire at an electrical substation that supplies power to the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, operations will remain suspended until 11:59 PM on March 21,” the statement read.

An airport spokesperson, speaking to the BBC, confirmed that fire crews were at the scene, but there was no clear timeline for when power would be fully restored. “We are working as quickly as possible to resolve this,” they added.

Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 has reported multiple flight diversions due to the disruption. Additionally, Heathrow officials informed news agency AFP that the impact of the outage is likely to continue for several days.

Images and videos of the fire have circulated online, including footage shared by Sputnik, Russia’s state-owned news outlet. The visuals show flames illuminating the night sky, with thick smoke billowing into the air.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN), which provides power to millions of homes across central and southern England as well as parts of Scotland, confirmed that the fire occurred at the North Hyde substation. Emergency teams have been deployed to the site.

“We are aware of a large-scale power failure affecting customers in the Hayes, Hounslow, and surrounding areas of London. The safety of residents, our employees, and emergency personnel remains our top priority,” SSEN said in a statement.

Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, ranked fourth globally in 2024, according to data from aviation analytics firm OAG. Last year, it also held the title of Europe’s busiest airport, serving millions of passengers.

The prolonged shutdown has triggered frustration among travelers, with many taking to social media to express their concerns. Some criticized the lack of contingency measures, questioning why a major airport could be rendered inoperative for an entire day due to a power failure. Others wondered about the absence of backup generators, while some humorously compared the incident to the action-packed Die Hard film series, in which Bruce Willis’ character battles terrorists at an airport.

With authorities still assessing the extent of the damage, passengers are advised to stay updated with their airlines for further developments.