A day after a major disruption at London-Heathrow Airport, India’s largest airline, Air India, announced that it has resumed its flight operations. The temporary shutdown, caused by a power outage, had led to the grounding of 1,351 inbound and outbound flights on Friday, affecting nearly 200,000 passengers.
What Caused the Disruption?
The disruption at Europe’s busiest airport was triggered by a fire at a substation in West London’s North Hyde plant on Thursday evening. The fire caused a “significant power outage” that left over 16,000 homes without electricity and impacted Heathrow’s operations. According to British media reports, 150 people were evacuated from the affected area, and a 200-metre safety cordon was enforced due to the smoke.
Impact on Passengers and Flights
The power outage forced Heathrow to shut down operations until midnight on March 21, leading to severe inconvenience for travelers. Many inbound flights had to be diverted to other airports across Europe. The disruption affected at least 37 daily flights connecting Heathrow with major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Air India’s Update on Resumption of Services
In a statement, Air India confirmed that flights to and from Heathrow have resumed after the temporary halt. The airline assured passengers that operations are back on track and that flights would now follow their normal schedule.
For instance:
- Flight AI111 operated on time as per its schedule.
- Flight AI161, which had been diverted to Frankfurt due to the disruption, was expected to leave Frankfurt at 2:05 PM local time on Saturday.
Apology from Heathrow’s Chief Executive
Heathrow Airport’s Chief Executive, Thomas Woldbye, expressed regret for the disruption, calling it one of the most severe incidents the airport has faced. He admitted that despite their best efforts, such situations cannot be prevented “100 percent.”
Efforts by Firefighters and Emergency Services
The London Fire Brigade responded quickly to the fire, deploying 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to bring the situation under control. Local residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut due to the smoke in the area.
Flights Back on Track
Following the resolution of the power outage, flight operations at Heathrow Airport resumed. Air India’s timely update brought relief to passengers waiting for the resumption of services. Travelers are now advised to check the latest flight schedules and any additional updates before heading to the airport.
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