A major fire near London’s Heathrow Airport triggered a 24-hour shutdown, causing worldwide travel disruptions. The UK’s busiest airport lost power on Friday, forcing airlines to divert flights and leaving passengers stranded. Some planes already in the air had to turn back.
Dozens of flights were affected, including two key routes from Australia. One flight from Perth to London and another from Sydney via Singapore faced long delays. Passengers were rerouted to nearby airports, with some even taking buses from Paris to London—an eight-hour journey.
The shutdown created a domino effect across global air travel. Airlines struggled with misplaced aircraft, disrupted schedules, and crew shortages. Strict rules on pilot and staff working hours added to the chaos.
Heathrow’s airline operators are now considering legal action. A report claims airport leadership was slow to respond, with the CEO only returning to work hours after the crisis began.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of major travel hubs. As Heathrow recovers, airlines and airports worldwide are rethinking emergency plans to avoid future chaos.
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