Air India Flights Return, Issue Urgent Advisory for Travellers News24 –

Air India announced on Friday that its flights from London’s Heathrow Airport were temporarily stopped because the airport will be closed until midnight on March 21. This was due to a power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation.

The airline said in a statement, “Our flights to and from London Heathrow (LHR) have been disrupted because the airport is closed until 11:59 PM London time on March 21, due to a major power outage.”

Air India said that flight AI129 from Mumbai to London Heathrow is returning to Mumbai, and flight AI161 from Delhi is being redirected to Frankfurt.

The airline said, “All our other flights to and from London Heathrow, including AI111 this morning, have been canceled for March 21. We will update you about when flights will resume. Flights to London Gatwick are not affected.”

#ImportantUpdate
Due to a significant power outage, London Heathrow Airport has been shut down until 23:59 on 21st March. All Air India flights to and from London Heathrow for 21st March have been cancelled.

For more information or assistance, please call our Contact Centre at…

— Air India (@airindia) March 21, 2025

Heathrow Airport posted on X, “To ensure the safety of our passengers and staff, Heathrow will remain closed until 11:59 PM on March 21.” They also advised passengers not to travel to the airport.

Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage.

To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March.

Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport… pic.twitter.com/7SWNJP8ojd

— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 21, 2025

Fire Forces Evacuations And Disrupts Flights At Heathrow Airport

About 150 people were evacuated from nearby buildings after big orange flames and smoke were seen rising into the sky, according to Reuters.

The fire also caused power outages in nearby areas and affected flight schedules worldwide, including at Heathrow, the fifth-busiest airport in the world.

Heathrow Flights Disrupted By Fire, 120 Flights Diverted

Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 said that at least 120 flights heading to Heathrow had to be diverted to other airports. By Friday, 1,351 flights were scheduled to arrive and depart from Heathrow.

Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for FlightRadar24, said, “Heathrow is one of the biggest airports in the world. This will cause problems for airlines all over the world.”

The London Fire Brigade said about 70 firefighters worked to control the fire, but the cause is still unknown.