Flights Disrupted, Passengers Diverted Mid-Air As Heathrow Shuts Down After Substation Fire

 

March 21, (THEWILL) – The UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow has been shut down on Friday after its main electrical substation exploded, forcing global disruption of travel as thousands of flights are being diverted mid-air.

Reports indicated that at least 1,357 flights have already been canceled, diverted, or delayed.

Some planes already on their way to London managed to land at other UK airports.

While dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon, and other European cities, some planes were forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London.

Thousands of passengers are stranded as British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Delta announced flight cancellations and diversions.

It is the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010