Heathrow Airport shuts down, hundreds of flights cancelled and diverted

London’s Heathrow Airport suspended all operations on March 21, affecting thousands of passengers as flights were cancelled, diverted, or turned back mid-air. The shutdown will remain in effect until 23:59 local time, with authorities advising passengers not to travel to the airport.

At least 120 inbound flights were diverted, while over 1,300 scheduled takeoffs and landings were disrupted. Air India confirmed the cancellation of all flights to and from Heathrow for the day, with AI129 from Mumbai returning and AI161 from Delhi diverted to Frankfurt. British Airways and Emirates also suspended their operations at Heathrow.

A total of 150 people were evacuated from nearby buildings following the incident. Power outages impacted airport systems and thousands of homes in the Hayes area. The London Fire Brigade deployed ten fire engines and 70 firefighters to manage the situation, with officials establishing a 200-meter safety cordon around the affected site.

Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines for updates and alternative arrangements. Heathrow officials stated, "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on March 21." Authorities have also warned of continued disruptions in the coming days as backlogs are cleared.

Flight tracking data showed diversions to Paris, Shannon, and Frankfurt, with some flights forced to return to their point of origin. Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports, handling around 80 million passengers annually and approximately 1,300 daily takeoffs and landings.

The situation remains under assessment, with no confirmation on when full operations will resume. Engineers are working to restore power while airlines manage widespread cancellations and rerouting of affected passengers. Heathrow Airport urged travelers to remain updated through official channels.