A significant fire at an electrical substation has forced the closure of Heathrow Airport, affecting over 1,300 flights and raising concerns about the safety of critical infrastructure.
Heathrow Airport has been closed for an entire day due to a significant fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, a situation that has disrupted over 1,300 flights. The exact cause of the blaze remains unclear, leading to a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories regarding the nature of the incident.
Reports from eyewitnesses indicate that the fire took hold in an electrical substation located adjacent to Terminal 5, prompting a rapid response from the London Fire Brigade, who are currently on the scene. The airport, identified as a crucial component of UK national infrastructure, has seen its operations come to a standstill, causing chaos for travellers worldwide. Richard Gaisford, a chief correspondent for Good Morning Britain, reflected on the situation by stating, “Heathrow Airport is a key piece of UK national infrastructure. Now brought to a standstill by a fire outside of its well-protected boundaries, that creates chaos around the world. Security services must be considering sabotage.”
The environment surrounding the incident has grown charged with theories, particularly given the timing and location of the fire. Prominent figures, including LBC presenter Nick Ferrari, provocatively asked on air, “Has anyone seen Vladimir Putin?” This led to a significant amount of commentary on social media, where users expressed concerns about potential Russian involvement. One user on X noted, “Power station near Heathrow in flames – and no, I don’t believe in coincidences… This is fear. This is hatred. This is Putin’s way of saying: ‘I’ll burn everything before I lose.’”
Others have echoed similar sentiments, speculating that the incident may be part of a broader strategy of hybrid warfare. Concerns were raised about the reliance on a single electrical substation for such a vital hub, with Labour MP Ruth Cadbury questioning the wisdom of this dependency. In an interview with Times Radio, she remarked, “There are obviously questions about it, and I don’t know enough about electricity, but for the airport to be dependent on one substation, it does raise questions.”
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, commented on the situation during an LBC segment, reiterating that the cause of the fire remains uncertain. Nevertheless, government officials have cautioned against jumping to conclusions regarding potential foul play, labelling such discussions as “speculative.”
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport issued a statement confirming the widespread power outage and the ongoing efforts to manage the incident: “Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage across the airport due to a large fire at a nearby electrical substation. Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.”
Due to the chaos brought on by the fire, passengers have been advised against travelling to the airport until further notice. The closure highlights significant vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure as authorities begin to assess the full impact of this disruption on global travel.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://news.sky.com/story/large-fire-at-electrical-substation-in-west-london-causes-power-outages-13332920 – This article corroborates the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, which caused significant power outages and disrupted over 1,300 flights.
- https://abcnews.go.com/International/fire-electrical-substation-closes-heathrow-airport/story?id=120009870 – This report confirms the fire at the electrical substation near Heathrow Airport, leading to the airport’s closure and a significant power outage affecting nearby homes and businesses.
- https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/march/fire-at-electrical-substation-hayes/ – This official London Fire Brigade report details the response to the fire at the electrical substation in Hayes, including the deployment of ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters.
- https://www.timesradio.co.uk/ – This URL could potentially host an interview with Labour MP Ruth Cadbury discussing concerns about the airport’s dependency on a single electrical substation, though specific content may vary.
- https://www.lbc.co.uk/ – This URL could host discussions or interviews related to the fire, including comments from Ed Miliband and Nick Ferrari, though specific content may vary.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent, focusing on a current event with no clear indication of being recycled from older news. However, without specific dates or further context, it’s difficult to confirm its absolute freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Quotes from Richard Gaisford, Nick Ferrari, and Ruth Cadbury are included, but without specific dates or sources for these quotes, it’s challenging to verify their originality. Ed Miliband’s comment is noted but lacks a direct source link.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Star, which is known for sensational reporting. While it covers real events, the inclusion of speculative theories and lack of in-depth analysis from more authoritative sources like the BBC or Reuters reduces its reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
The fire incident itself is plausible and has caused significant disruptions. However, the speculative nature of the conspiracy theories, especially regarding potential sabotage or Russian involvement, lacks concrete evidence and seems unlikely without further investigation.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is likely recent but includes speculative elements and lacks concrete evidence for some claims. The source is not as reliable as major news outlets, and while the incident itself is plausible, the surrounding theories are questionable.
