Counter-Terror Police Lead Investigation Into Substation Fire That Closed Heathrow Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into a fire at electrical substation

Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into a fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, which has caused the unprecedented closure of Heathrow Airport. The blaze, which broke out late on Thursday night, has severely disrupted air travel, forcing the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights and cutting power to thousands of homes.

The fire at the North Hyde substation, operated by National Grid, led to a major power failure affecting Heathrow’s Terminal 2 and Terminal 4, with airport officials confirming operations will remain suspended until at least midnight on Friday. The incident has left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded, with airlines warning of ongoing disruption in the days ahead.

Firefighters Contain ‘Major Hazard’ Blaze

Emergency services were first alerted at 11:23 PM on Thursday, with London Fire Brigade (LFB) deploying ten fire engines, two bulk foam units, and a high-volume pump. More than 70 firefighters tackled the fire, which involved a transformer containing 25,000 litres of cooling oil.

At the peak of the incident, a 200-metre cordon was established, and around 150 people were evacuated to a rest centre. By Friday morning, firefighters had contained the fire, though residual flames remained alight.

LFB Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith described the situation as highly complex:"This was a major hazard due to the live high-voltage equipment and the nature of an oil-fuelled fire. Our teams worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible."

Despite the scale of the incident, no casualties have been reported.

Counter-Terror Command Assumes Control of Investigation

The cause of the fire remains unknown, though initial assessments suggest no immediate evidence of foul play. However, given the impact on national infrastructure, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command has assumed leadership of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Met said:"While there is currently no indication of foul play, we retain an open mind at this stage. Given the location of the substation and the significance of the disruption, counter-terrorism command is leading inquiries to ensure a thorough investigation."

Security sources have acknowledged the possibility of a technical failure, but authorities have not ruled out other scenarios, including deliberate sabotage. Substation fires of this scale are considered rare, and National Grid has stated it will cooperate fully with investigators.

Severe Disruption at Heathrow

Heathrow, which handles more than 230 destinations globally, has been brought to a standstill, with power failures affecting key operational systems. Airlines have warned that even once electricity is restored, flights may not resume immediately due to safety and security checks.

A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed:"To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23:59 on 21 March. Significant disruption is expected over the coming days."

More than 120 flights were already in the air when the closure was announced, with some long-haul services forced to return to their departure airports. Airlines including British Airways, which operates the largest number of flights from Heathrow, have urged passengers to check for updates before travelling.

Rail and coach services to the airport have also been suspended, further complicating travel plans.

Government Response and Industry Backlash

The UK government has described the incident as an "unprecedented failure" and is in discussions over whether to convene an emergency COBRA meeting.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:"This is an extraordinarily rare incident, and we are doing everything possible to ensure power is restored safely and quickly."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed she had spoken with Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, and was monitoring the situation closely.

However, industry figures have criticised Heathrow’s resilience planning. Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said:"If critical infrastructure is entirely dependent on a single power source, that represents a serious planning failure."

EasyJet and Ryanair have announced they will deploy larger aircraft and additional flights to help stranded passengers, though capacity remains limited.

Power Restoration and Ongoing Investigation

By Friday afternoon, National Grid confirmed it had begun reconfiguring the network to restore electricity, including supply to Heathrow. However, engineers have warned that the damage to the substation’s primary transformer is extensive, with the backup transformer also sustaining heat damage.

Emergency crews remain on site alongside investigators, with disruption expected to continue into the weekend. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area while forensic examinations take place.

With Heathrow’s closure sending shockwaves across global aviation, the focus will now turn to both the cause of the fire and the airport’s ability to prevent similar failures in the future.