London's Heathrow Airport Shuts Down, Travel Chaos Spreads After Fire Engulfs Power Substation

A fire at an electrical substation in West London caused a major power outage at Heathrow Airport. Backup generators failed, leading to the closure of the airport and cancellation of approximately 1,300 flights. Over 145,000 passengers have been affected by the disruption, impacting global air travel. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, but officials have ruled out foul play. The primary focus remains on restoring power to the airport. Inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports and some international locations. Shares of European airlines, including IAG and Air France-KLM, experienced a decline. Heathrow handled nearly 84 million passengers last year, averaging around 220,000 daily. The cause is believed to be a catastrophic accident involving the electrical grid.