Air India Faces Flight Disruptions to London Due to Heathrow Power Outage
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Synopsis
Air India has announced disruptions to its flights to and from London Heathrow due to a temporary airport closure caused by a power outage from a substation fire. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.
Key Takeaways
- Air India flights to London Heathrow disrupted
- Temporary closure due to a power outage
- Flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected
- Passengers advised to contact airlines for information
- Significant disruption expected in the coming days
New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) India's largest airline, Air India, announced on Friday that its flights to and from London Heathrow (LHR) have faced interruptions due to a temporary halt in operations at the airport.
The closure of Heathrow Airport occurred after a fire in a substation in western London caused a significant power outage, affecting over 16,000 homes.
According to Air India's statement, the AI129 flight from Mumbai heading to London Heathrow is now returning to Mumbai, and AI161 from Delhi is being rerouted to Frankfurt.
“All other flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 from this morning, have been cancelled for March 21. We will provide updates on the resumption of services as soon as possible,” the airline stated.
Additionally, flights to London Gatwick remain unaffected.
In a post on X, London Heathrow airport advised travelers to refrain from coming to the airport and to reach out to their airlines for more information.
"Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying power to the airport, Heathrow is currently experiencing a major power outage. To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, Heathrow will remain closed until 11:59 PM on March 21," the airport stated.
Reports indicate that several flights have already been diverted, and airport authorities predict significant disruption in the coming days.
According to reports, the Scottish and Southern Electricity Network, which provides power to nearly four million homes across central and southern England and northern Scotland, confirmed that the fire occurred at the North Hyde substation, with emergency services already on site.
Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport, managing around 1,300 landings and take-offs daily. Last year, a historic 83.9 million passengers traveled through its terminals.
