HEATHROW CLOSED

[CharlieH]

 

 

Summary

• Heathrow Airport is closing all day Friday because of a large fire at a nearby electrical substation that supplies it

• The airport closure is expected to last until 23:59

• Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, has warned of "significant disruption" over the coming days and told passengers not to travel "under any circumstances" until it reopens

• At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be affected by Friday's closure, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24

• The fire at the substation in Hayes, in west London, has left thousands of homes without power and caused around 150 people to be evacuated from surrounding properties

• The cause of the fire is not yet known

 

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

Yikes. Sounds like someone parked their EV too close. 

[Bkk Brian]

Its the Russians, has to be 

[brewsterbudgen]

A nightmare.  Every incoming and outgoing flight cancelled.  Planes being turned back and flying back to their departure airport. 

 

Shouldn't a 'prestige' airport have contingencies for situations like this?  It's not as it the fire was even at the airport!

[dinsdale]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A nightmare.  Every incoming and outgoing flight cancelled.  Planes being turned back and flying back to their departure airport. 

 

Shouldn't a 'prestige' airport have contingencies for situations like this?  It's not as it the fire was even at the airport!

Agree. Something a bit bigger going on here. When the power goes off ALL airports have backup systems.

[Purdey]

There's nothing like Brits grumbling at the airport. 

[KhunBENQ]

36 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Agree. Something a bit bigger going on here. When the power goes off ALL airports have backup systems.

They have. For a limited time and volume to handle incoming flights nearby (ATC, tower), light for runway/taxiways, emergency light for orderly evacuation etc.

But if the main power supply is burning there will be an end to that when batteries and diesel fuel run out.

 

[KhunBENQ]

Qantas passengers diverted to Paris!

Carted to London by bus, 7h to 8h trip.

Nothing beats the fun of air travel

[dinsdale]

11 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

They have. For a limited time and volume to handle incoming flights nearby (ATC, tower), light for runway/taxiways, emergency light for orderly evacuation etc.

But if the main power supply is burning there will be an end to that when batteries and diesel fuel run out.

 

Ok. So just how long would the backup last for? What exactly is a limited time? Pity you didn't mention this detail as you seem very confident in your statement.

[SunnyinBangrak]

36 minutes ago, Purdey said:

There's nothing like Brits grumbling at the airport. 

Not many of them at Heathrow. You haven't visited for 25 years?

[Rimmer]

London Stansted Airport will be busy

[zmisha]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its the Russians, has to be 

What is the purpose of any terrorist attack? To scare. But it is impossible to scare something that does not make decisions. Putin and Lavrov have said many times that all decisions are made in Washington. Therefore, there is no point for the Russians to commit a terrorist attack in London.

[Briggsy]

Diverted planes all over the place, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Munich. Some long haul stopping en route e.g. West Coast U.S. diverting to East Coast U.S. airports, Middle East stopping in Cairo. Many turned back to their origin.

 

Carriers will like to divert to their hubs if they have the choice.

[beautifulthailand99]

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its the Russians, has to be 

Source for that or are you just spreading unsubstantiated rumours ?

[beautifulthailand99]

53 minutes ago, zmisha said:

What is the purpose of any terrorist attack? To scare. But it is impossible to scare something that does not make decisions. Putin and Lavrov have said many times that all decisions are made in Washington. Therefore, there is no point for the Russians to commit a terrorist attack in London.

Aye and if we go down that rabbit hole it would be more likely to be a Ukrainian false flag - cui bono ?

[sanuk21]

9 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Aye and if we go down that rabbit hole it would be more likely to be a Ukrainian false flag - cui bono ?

'Source for that or are you just spreading unsubstantiated rumours?'

[johng]

1 hour ago, zmisha said:

Therefore, there is no point for the Russians to commit a terrorist attack in London.

 

Yes but Starmer is going gung-ho into the "coalition of the willing"

 

Anyway when I was at Heathrow  in January this year  I noticed that the lighting was very dim   and at the security check  the power supply momentarily  cut out  a couple of times in the short time I was there

at the time I though it was due to the windmills and solar panels not delivering enough juice  but maybe it was that power station in early stage failure?

[Bkk Brian]

25 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Source for that or are you just spreading unsubstantiated rumours ?

Oh no you got me, ok it was Trump who told me the Russians did it. Or perhaps you should have realized the emoji left in my post was there for a reason  lighten up.

 

That said, it was not long ago a Russian rammed the boat on the North Sea 

 

Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport closure? Probe into substation fire launched as experts say blaze exposes huge 'vulnerability' in Britain's critical national infrastructure

Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin's war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine - although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West.

Now, experts are analysing whether Russia could be linked to the Heathrow fire, which is affecting 679 flights scheduled to land and 678 departures from the hub.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14522635/Russia-Heathrow-Airport-closure-fire-investigation.html#:~:text=Western officials have,from the hub.

[beautifulthailand99]

2 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

 

Nah you are smearing - you know exactly what you are doing. Daily Mail sheesh - clickbait heaven.

 

https://x.com/JayinKyiv/status/1902946979551850740

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

 

Nah you are smearing - you know exactly what you are doing.

 

Ok, here's some more smearing from the experts....

 

'The Russians are looking at everything. They're looking at our fibre optics under the sea, they're looking at our nuclear power stations, we know hostile reconnaissance is going on right now.

'If I was a foreign hostile party and I wanted to disrupt one of the busiest airports in the world, cause international embarrassment, create many, many question marks, I would target something like a substation.

 

Security expert Will Geddes, director and founder of the International Corporate Protection Group

 

 

[beautifulthailand99]

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Ok, here's some more smearing from the experts....

 

'The Russians are looking at everything. They're looking at our fibre optics under the sea, they're looking at our nuclear power stations, we know hostile reconnaissance is going on right now.

'If I was a foreign hostile party and I wanted to disrupt one of the busiest airports in the world, cause international embarrassment, create many, many question marks, I would target something like a substation.

 

Security expert Will Geddes, director and founder of the International Corporate Protection Group

 

 

If it was the Russians which it isn't all the more reason for Britain to crank down the rhetoric - they are winning ! 

It also has all the hallmarks of an accidental electrical fire, but sure, let's jump to Russians crawling through the Channel Tunnel to set fire to a random substation in outer London.

is it possible it's Russian sabotage? Yes.

 

Is it likely it's Russian sabotage? Not particularly. "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity [or accident, non-Russia related arson, mechanical failure etc in this case],"

Is it definitely Russian sabotage? Categorically no. We will obviously have to wait for the results of the London Fire Brigade's investigation to say if it was deliberate or not, and then, if it is deliberate, presumably for an MI5/MI6/SO-15 investigation to determine if it has anything to do with Russia.

 

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A nightmare.  Every incoming and outgoing flight cancelled.  Planes being turned back and flying back to their departure airport. 

 

Shouldn't a 'prestige' airport have contingencies for situations like this?  It's not as it the fire was even at the airport!

A quote directly from the BBC report:

 

'With Heathrow being such a busy and important airport for passenger journeys and global trade, questions are being asked whether it has back-up systems in the event of power cuts.

The BBC understands that Heathrow does back up power for its key systems, but kickstarting these alternative power supplies for the whole airport takes time.

A source says it isn’t possible to switch the power back on immediately.

And even once the power is back one, there are countless systems which need to be rebooted and checked to ensure they are working properly and are stable'.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly24zvvwxlt

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, beautifulthailand99 said:

If it was the Russians which it isn't all the more reason for Britain to crank down the rhetoric - they are winning ! 

It also has all the hallmarks of an accidental electrical fire, but sure, let's jump to Russians crawling through the Channel Tunnel to set fire to a random substation in outer London.

is it possible it's Russian sabotage? Yes.

 

Is it likely it's Russian sabotage? Not particularly. "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity [or accident, non-Russia related arson, mechanical failure etc in this case],"

Is it definitely Russian sabotage? Categorically no. We will obviously have to wait for the results of the London Fire Brigade's investigation to say if it was deliberate or not, and then, if it is deliberate, presumably for an MI5/MI6/SO-15 investigation to determine if it has anything to do with Russia.

 

Yes lets jump and smear the Russians, I know you hate it..

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A nightmare.  Every incoming and outgoing flight cancelled.  Planes being turned back and flying back to their departure airport. 

 

Shouldn't a 'prestige' airport have contingencies for situations like this?  It's not as it the fire was even at the airport!

Of course it should, like back up generators that keep the control tower and the runways functioning.

 

Seems that Britain, the country that once ruled the ocean waves, can't even keep an airport open. Not even the sick man of Europe- now it's the bad joke of Europe.

 

So retarded that the tube can't even handle a bit of snow on the track. I once almost missed my flight because of that.

[Bkk Brian]

54 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I don't do hate Brian I leave it to experst like you !

I do hate the Russian that rammed the boat last week, you got me. He also killed someone but regards this incident, I will leave it to the experts opinions which I have already shared.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

A quote directly from the BBC report:

 

'With Heathrow being such a busy and important airport for passenger journeys and global trade, questions are being asked whether it has back-up systems in the event of power cuts.

The BBC understands that Heathrow does back up power for its key systems, but kickstarting these alternative power supplies for the whole airport takes time.

A source says it isn’t possible to switch the power back on immediately.

And even once the power is back one, there are countless systems which need to be rebooted and checked to ensure they are working properly and are stable'.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly24zvvwxlt

Don't tell the hospital operating theatres that they are mistaken thinking the power resumes instantly in the event of a mains failure ( in fact it does ).

 

A source says it isn’t possible to switch the power back on immediately.

And even once the power is back one, there are countless systems which need to be rebooted and checked to ensure they are working properly and are stable'.

 

Sounds like a BS excuse for incompetence in designing the back ups.

 

 

[zmisha]

1 hour ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Aye and if we go down that rabbit hole it would be more likely to be a Ukrainian false flag - cui bono ?

In any case, if the terrorists are found, they will be shot before they can open their mouths to say anything. And the terrorists will definitely have new passports in their pockets. This always happens in any terrorist attack in London.

[johng]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

The Russians are looking at everything.

 

Are they looking under our beds ?

 

Yes of course they look at everything   the same as

"the 5 eyes" look at everything  

remember the very recent Apple encryption debacle ?

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, johng said:

 

Are they looking under our beds ?

 

Yes of course they look at everything   the same as

"the 5 eyes" look at everything  

remember the very recent Apple encryption debacle ?

Are they looking under our beds ?

 

I don't know? Ask Security expert Will Geddes who stated it. He'll tell ya!

[Chomper Higgot]

24 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Don't tell the hospital operating theatres that they are mistaken thinking the power resumes instantly in the event of a mains failure ( in fact it does ).

 

A source says it isn’t possible to switch the power back on immediately.

And even once the power is back one, there are countless systems which need to be rebooted and checked to ensure they are working properly and are stable'.

 

Sounds like a BS excuse for incompetence in designing the back ups.

 

 

Yes hospital operating theaters do have Uninterruptible Power Supplies, so do control rooms.

 

UPS back up to the critical systems within facilities is common practice, but it is not at all usual for large scale facilities to have complete UPS back up.