Heathrow Airport Still Closed As Substation Fire Burns, 1,350+ Flights Affected, 5,000+ Homes Without Power

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:52am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

Heathrow Airport remains closed as a fire at an electrical substation near the airport continues to burn, with 10% of the blaze still alight, according to London Fire Brigade. Power remains out at Terminals 2 and 4, and over 5,000 homes are affected. Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said firefighters are working under “challenging conditions,” and investigations are ongoing with counter-terrorism police involved as a precaution. About 150 people have been evacuated, including 29 from nearby properties. Heathrow warns of prolonged disruptions, with 1,350+ flights impacted today. Fire safety teams continue assessing the situation, with recovery efforts ongoing.

Read More at BBC

India’s $23 Billion Manufacturing Incentive Program to End After Underperforming, With Funds Disbursed Below 8%

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:36am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

India's $23 billion incentive program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing will expire, with no plans for expansion or extended deadlines. Despite participation from major companies like Foxconn and Reliance, the scheme has underperformed, with only 37% of the production target met as of October 2024, and less than 8% of allocated funds disbursed. The program saw growth in mobile-phone and pharmaceutical sectors but faced issues in other industries. While the government plans new alternatives, the manufacturing share of the economy has decreased, from 15.4% to 14.3%.  

Read More at Reuters

One Airport Closure Brought the Skies to a Standstill: Why London’s Heathrow Airport Shutdown Disrupted Millions Across the World?

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 10:32am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

Heathrow Airport, a pivotal global travel hub, experienced a significant disruption on March 21, 2025, due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, leading to a complete closure and widespread flight cancellations. Serving over 230 destinations across nearly 90 countries, Heathrow operates at 99% capacity, with 90 airlines based there, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa. In February 2025, the airport handled 5.7 million passengers, marking its busiest February on record, and totaling 84.1 million passengers from March 2024 to February 2025. To alleviate capacity constraints, plans for a third runway are underway, with a proposal submission expected this summer, following government support citing potential boosts to trade and economic growth. Heathrow's current infrastructure includes two main runways and five terminals, with Terminal 5 being the most recent addition, opened in 2008. The airport is also the UK's largest single-site employer, with over 90,000 staff members.

Read More at The Economic Times

Woman Stranded at London, Heathrow Amid Airport Shutdown Seeks Urgent Flight Update, Air India’s Response Leaves More Doubts

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 09:10am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

A fire at an electrical substation near London's Heathrow Airport caused a major power outage, leading to the airport's closure until midnight on March 21. This disruption affected over 2,000 flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. Air India confirmed that flight AI129 from Mumbai to London returned to Mumbai, and flight AI161 from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt. All remaining Air India flights to and from Heathrow, including AI111, were canceled for March 21. Flights to London Gatwick remained unaffected. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for updates and avoid traveling to the airport.

Read More at Hindustan Times

Global Flight Disruptions Results into Widespread Chaos for Travellers as Fire Forces Closure of Europe's Busiest Heathrow Airport, London

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 07:40am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

A massive fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport on March 21, 2025, caused a severe power outage, leading to the airport's closure until 23:59 that day. The incident disrupted global flight schedules, with at least 120 inbound flights diverted and 1,351 scheduled flights affected. British Airways, with 341 flights scheduled at Heathrow, faced significant operational challenges. Other airlines, including Qantas and United Airlines, rerouted flights to alternative destinations. The power outage also impacted local homes and businesses, leading to a chaotic period for the travel and trade industries. Approximately 70 firefighters responded to the blaze, which resulted in the evacuation of around 150 people from nearby buildings.

Read More at Reuters

‘Turning Our Plane Around’: Travellers Panic as London’s Heathrow Airport Goes Dark After Fire

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 07:17am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

London's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest, has been forced to close for the entire day on March 21 due to a significant power outage caused by a large fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, West London. The fire led to the evacuation of approximately 150 people and left over 16,000 homes without electricity. As a result, more than 1,300 flights have been affected, causing widespread disruption for hundreds of thousands of passengers globally. The London Fire Brigade dispatched ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, with operations expected to continue throughout the night. Passengers are advised to avoid traveling to the airport and to contact their airlines for further information.

Read More at The Financial Express

Fire at West London Substation Cuts Power to 16,000 Homes, Shutting Down Heathrow Airport, Over 1,300 Flights Canceled

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 06:54am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

A fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, West London, has caused a significant power outage, leading to the closure of Heathrow Airport until 23:59 on March 21. This incident has disrupted over 1,300 flights, affecting more than 100,000 passengers globally. Airlines such as Qantas have diverted flights to alternate airports, including Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Shannon in Ireland. The London Fire Brigade, with ten fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters, responded to the blaze, evacuating around 150 residents from nearby properties. The fire also resulted in power loss to over 16,000 homes and businesses in the Hayes area. Passengers are advised to avoid traveling to the airport until further notice.

Read More at The New York Times

Massive Fire Near Heathrow Airport: Air India Cancels All Flights, Returns AI129 to Mumbai, Reroutes to AI161 Frankfurt

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 06:19am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

A massive fire at an electrical substation near London's Heathrow Airport on Friday led to a significant power outage, forcing the airport to shut down operations until midnight. This closure resulted in the diversion of at least 120 flights and the cancellation of over 1,000 scheduled flights, affecting the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers worldwide. The fire prompted the evacuation of approximately 150 individuals and left thousands of properties without electricity in the surrounding areas. Airlines such as British Airways and Emirates have advised passengers to avoid traveling to the airport until further notice, as disruptions are expected to continue in the coming days.

Read More at Economic Times

North Korea Tests New Anti-Aircraft Missile: Kim Jong Un Warns Over Joint Military Drills Amid Rising Tensions With U.S. and South Korea

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 05:45am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

North Korea has conducted a test-firing of a new anti-aircraft missile system, with leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the launch. State media reported the system as highly reliable and advantageous in combat scenarios. This test coincided with the conclusion of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which North Korea perceives as rehearsals for invasion. A spokesperson for North Korea's defense ministry labeled the drills "reckless" and a "rehearsal of war," warning that all options, including the most destructive military means, are being considered to counter U.S. and South Korean actions.

Read More at The Tribune

U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi Charges Three Individuals in Tesla Arson Cases, Labels Acts as 'Domestic Terrorism'

Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 05:40am on 21 Mar 2025,Friday International

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that three individuals have been charged in connection with recent arson attacks on Tesla properties in Oregon, Colorado, and South Carolina. The defendants allegedly used Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla vehicles and charging stations. One suspect in Oregon was also found armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle. Bondi labeled these actions as "domestic terrorism" and emphasized that such crimes will face severe legal consequences, with potential prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years. These incidents coincide with Tesla CEO Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, which has sparked protests and vandalism against Tesla properties nationwide.

Read More at ABC

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