Heathrow Airport Resumes Flights After Major Power Outage
Heathrow Airport has reopened flight services following a significant power outage caused by a fire at a nearby substation, which disrupted hundreds of flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. The airport's authorities confirmed that operations were gradually returning to normal, with the first flights landing on Friday evening.
The fire, which was classified as non-suspicious by the London Fire Brigade, resulted in a major blackout affecting both the airport and local residents. UK Transport Minister Eddie Alexander stated that the power outage was beyond the airport operator’s control and that the backup generators were not sufficient to power the entire facility.
Thomas Walby, Heathrow's Chief Executive, acknowledged the severity of the incident, emphasizing that while backup systems exist, they cannot guarantee complete protection against such large-scale disruptions. British Airways CEO Shawn Doyle described the closure as unprecedented and noted the significant impact on passengers.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan reassured the public that there was no cause for alarm regarding the fire, as investigations are underway with assistance from counterterrorism police. The situation remains fluid, with authorities focused on restoring full operations at one of the world's busiest airports.
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