(New: Information from the network operator)
London (dpa -AfX) – Europe’s largest airport is quiet. The London Airport Heathrow remains closed due to a power failure. The British news agency PA reported more than 200,000 passengers on Friday. The reason for the power failure is a fire in a substation – why the fire broke out is still unclear. As a precaution, the London police switched on their anti-terrorist investigators.
In the afternoon, the light was backed up in an affected terminal, PA reported to reporter. According to the network operator, a temporary solution was found in order to be able to supply all customers with electricity again. However, it is unclear when the airport can open again. Travelers must also expect problems in the next few days.
Anti-terrorist investigators take over the case
The police are currently not assuming sabotage, but investigates in all directions. Although there is currently no indication of intentional action, all directions are kept open, the Metropolitan Police said.
“In view of the location of the substation and the effects that the incident had on critical national infrastructure, the anti-terrorist unit of the MET now leads the investigation.” Their special resources and skills are intended to help to move forward quickly.
What passengers are advised
Passengers were instructed not to travel to the airport and contact their airline. The airport should remain closed for now until midnight (11:59 p.m. local time). The problems could take longer, even if the airport opens again, because aircraft and crews are not in the right place, for example.
“We expect significant disabilities in the coming days,” said a statement by the airport. “We know that this is disappointing for passengers and we want to assure that we work as hard as possible to fix the situation.”
Flights from Germany also affected
The failure also has consequences for travelers in Germany. Almost 100 flights would take place between a German airport and London Heathrow every day, the ADV airport association said. Part of London-Gatwick and London-Stansted can be diverted. Nevertheless, you expect more than 50 flights and around 9,000 passengers affected that could not fly due to the power failure in Heathrow.
The association recommended all passengers to find out about the flight status at an early stage at their airline. Around 30 flights from and to London should be canceled on Friday at the largest German airport in Frankfurt alone. Some flights also had to be painted at Hamburg Airport.
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan expressed understanding of the frustration of many people. He could imagine that people had planned their honeymoon or a long -awaited journey, visited a loved one or just wanted to come home. This means inconvenience for thousands of people. One will ensure that teaching would be drawn from the case.
Passengers are annoyed
Heathrow in the west of the British capital is the largest airport in the UK Airport and Europe. Last year around 83.9 million passengers arrived there or flew off. There is usually a lot going on there. A reporter from the television station Sky News reported that it was incredibly quiet on Friday. “It’s so quiet.”
A woman said that she wanted to fly to the USA and wanted to see her favorite ice hockey team. She was “quite annoyed,” she told PA news agency. “I was looking forward to it.” A man complained in an interview with Sky News that a hotel had now increased prices after chaos.
The fire brigade was alerted on Friday night, around 70 firefighters insulated the fire in the substation. “It is still too early to say what that triggered,” said Minister Ed Miliband. But of course you have to take a close look at the causes and also the protective measures that exist for such a large facility as Heathrow. In the meantime, tens of thousands of households were without electricity. Prime Minister Keir Strander thanked the rescue workers./Kil/DP/NGU
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