Kenya Airways Takes Action Amid Day-Long Heathrow Airport Blackout

National carrier Kenya Airways has revealed its next course of action after Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom (UK) was closed down on Friday morning, March 21, affecting thousands of flights and leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers around the world stranded.

Global media reports indicated that the closure was a result of a massive fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, Hillingdon.

The blaze, which began late Thursday night, led to a substantial power outage, prompting the airport to shut down operations for the entire day. ​

"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," Heathrow Airport announced on its X account.

Collage of a fire that broke out at a power substation which caused Heathrow Airport to experience a blackout on March 21, 2025. /FINANCIAL EXPRESS

"Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience."

The fire at the North Hyde substation started around 11:23 p.m. GMT (2.23 a.m. Kenyan time) on March 20. Emergency services, including ten fire engines and seventy firefighters, responded promptly to the scene.

A 650-foot (198.12m) safety cordon was established, and nearby residents were evacuated due to the severity of the incident. Witnesses reported hearing explosions, with one resident stating, "A huge bang and the house shook." ​

Over 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow have since been cancelled or diverted, with airlines diverted to alternative airports that include London Gatwick. One of them was reported to have departed earlier from Nairobi.

In light of this, Viral Tea reached out to a Kenya Airways official who confirmed that the airline contacted affected customers with updates on the matter. "Yes, It affects all flights into and out of Heathrow. Affected customers have been contacted and updated," the official stated.

KQ operates 14 weekly flights between Nairobi and Heathrow, with an average of two flights a day. The airline is preparing for a busy schedule regarding its flights to the UK with the introduction of flights to Gatwick Airport in the middle of this year, a move that will grant its customers the opportunity to take a second direct flight to London.

Real-time spot checks by Viral Tea through flight tracker FlightRadar24 revealed that a KQ flight that was set to depart Heathrow for Nairobi today has been cancelled, as well as a British Airways flight that was set to land in Nairobi tonight. 

Meanwhile, approximately 290,000 passengers have been affected by the closure. Travellers have been advised to avoid heading to the airport and to contact their respective airlines for further information.

The effects of the fire incident even spread beyond the airport with over 16,000 homes in the vicinity reported to have lost power. While National Grid has restored electricity to many affected residences, several thousand homes remain without power.

Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the fire. Although there are currently no indications of foul play, all possibilities are being explored.

The incident has raised concerns about the resilience of critical infrastructure, especially given the extensive impact on both local communities and international travellers.

Airline experts said the last time European airports experienced disruption on such a large scale was the 2010 Icelandic ash cloud that grounded some 100,000 flights. The industry is now facing the prospect of a financial hit costing billions of shillings, and a likely fight over who should pay.

Aerial view of Heathrow Airport. /AVIATION AIRPORT WIKI