An investigation has been launched into the power outage that led to the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a substation fire. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has directed the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to conduct an urgent inquiry to shed light on the incident that left the airport stranded. Miliband emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding the outage to enhance the UK’s energy resilience and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The fire at the North Hyde substation in west London, which supplies power to Heathrow Airport, resulted in thousands of flights being canceled and passengers left stranded. Measures are being taken to investigate the incident and determine any wider lessons that can be learned regarding energy resilience for critical national infrastructure. Over 1,400 flights were disrupted due to the closure, with around 120 flights being diverted to other locations.
Despite the chaos and disruption caused by the power outage, Heathrow Airport managed to resume operations on Saturday morning. The incident has sparked concerns about the airport’s resilience and ability to handle such disruptions. Additional flights were scheduled to accommodate the influx of passengers affected by the closure. Passengers shared their experiences of being stranded due to canceled flights, highlighting the challenges faced by travelers during the outage.
Heathrow Airport relies on multiple electricity substations, each with backups, to ensure a continuous power supply. However, when the substation caught fire, it compromised the airport’s primary and backup power sources. The CEO of Heathrow Airport acknowledged the time it takes to switch substations and stated that the incident originated outside the airport premises. An investigation is underway to delve into the causes and impacts of the power outage, with a focus on preventing such incidents in the future
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