Heathrow CEO Slept Through Major Power Outage as Phone Was on Silent

 

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, remained asleep for the first seven hours of a major power outage that paralyzed Europe’s busiest airport because his mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge. According to an internal review led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, fellow Heathrow executives were unable to reach Woldbye after a fire at a substation caused a massive blackout on March 21, grounding thousands of flights and stranding an estimated 200,000 passengers.

 

The incident began at around 11:55pm, but Woldbye, who earned £3.2 million last year, was unaware of the unfolding crisis until approximately 6:45am the following morning. During this critical period, Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Javier Echave, repeatedly attempted to reach Woldbye and ultimately assumed leadership of the emergency response. Echave chaired crisis meetings and made the decision to close the airport for the remainder of the day.

 

The report clarifies earlier claims that Woldbye had knowingly gone to bed after learning about the outage. Instead, Kelly stated that the CEO was unaware of the incident and “expressed to us his deep regret at not being contactable during the night of the incident.” The review has since recommended that Heathrow adopt a dual notification system to ensure key individuals can be reached during significant emergencies. The airport has already taken steps to ensure that its chief executive can be contacted through alternative means in the future.

 

The blackout stemmed from a fire at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, West London, which destroyed both the primary and backup systems. It was later revealed that the fire originated in a 57-year-old transformer and spread to an adjacent unit. A third, newer transformer then overloaded and cut out, severing one of the three main grid lines powering Heathrow. The National Energy System Operator called the event an “unprecedented” failure.

 

Critics from within the aviation industry questioned how such a catastrophic failure could result from the loss of a single substation. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, voiced strong disapproval of Woldbye’s absence during the initial response, saying, “I know what I would have done. I would have rushed to the airport at that moment. All CEOs are geared for that. You lead from the front and then you delegate back. I believe if Thomas had the opportunity again he would act differently, but that’s a question for him.”

 

Kelly’s review acknowledged that Heathrow staff responded effectively given the circumstances, managing to restore power later that day by reconfiguring the airport’s internal network. However, it also highlighted a significant vulnerability: while the loss of one grid line was deemed unlikely, staff had been reassured about the substation’s redundancy. Yet, it was known that such a failure would lead to at least an eight-hour shutdown. “This is a result of the way the infrastructure at the airport has been developed over 75 years,” the review noted, pointing out that immediate fixes are unlikely due to limited overnight maintenance windows and spatial constraints.

 

Heathrow has explored various upgrades in the past, including a ring configuration for its high voltage network and a direct connection to the national transmission grid. However, these projects were tied to long-delayed expansion plans, and National Grid has indicated that a direct line may not be possible before 2037.

 

Heathrow chairman Lord Deighton thanked the review committee for their work, stating, “This was an unprecedented set of circumstances, but the learnings identified in the Kelly Review will make Heathrow more fit for the future.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-30

 

 

What about the right to switch off?

Why on earth did they not send someone round to his house to bang on the door?

 

In any half baked organisation there will be a duty officer whose job involves calling in key personnel. This fellow earns £3 million +, phone being on silent is a totally unacceptable excuse!

Should also have a landline  or even a direct line that only close colleagues could call..?

In view of this incident, install in his house a special "Bat Phone" that is only used in such an emergency. There's no need to fire the man. Just change the procedure.

1 hour ago, JAG said:

Why on earth did they not send someone round to his house to bang on the door?

 

In any half baked organisation there will be a duty officer whose job involves calling in key personnel. This fellow earns £3 million +, phone being on silent is a totally unacceptable excuse!

 

There was no need to chase down the CEO.  The key person was available and overseeing the response.   The COO Javier Echave had the authority to act and was in a better position to act because the COO is responsible for operations.  The Heathrow COO is accountable for delivering Heathrow’s end-to-end operation including airfield, engineering and baggage, security, terminal services, business resilience and operational planning.   The CEO is not a technical person, and is almost a business/legal person better suited to administration and governance issues. 

 

 

1 hour ago, johng said:

Should also have a landline  or even a direct line that only close colleagues could call..?

 He was not needed and would  not have  been up to date on the technical aspects involved. The right person , the COO was available and it was the COO who was responsible for implementing the resilience plan.

I just like his excuse:

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge

it's similar to "the dog ate my homework"

I am not sure whether it is a phone feature or a network feature, but when my phone is on DND, if the caller makes three consecutive calls from the same number within a (I think) 3 minute period, my phone will ring..... It's an emergency default.

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Heathrow CEO Slept Through Major Power Outage as Phone Was on Silent

 

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, remained asleep for the first seven hours of a major power outage that paralyzed Europe’s busiest airport because his mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge. According to an internal review led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, fellow Heathrow executives were unable to reach Woldbye after a fire at a substation caused a massive blackout on March 21, grounding thousands of flights and stranding an estimated 200,000 passengers.

 

The incident began at around 11:55pm, but Woldbye, who earned £3.2 million last year, was unaware of the unfolding crisis until approximately 6:45am the following morning. During this critical period, Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Javier Echave, repeatedly attempted to reach Woldbye and ultimately assumed leadership of the emergency response. Echave chaired crisis meetings and made the decision to close the airport for the remainder of the day.

 

The report clarifies earlier claims that Woldbye had knowingly gone to bed after learning about the outage. Instead, Kelly stated that the CEO was unaware of the incident and “expressed to us his deep regret at not being contactable during the night of the incident.” The review has since recommended that Heathrow adopt a dual notification system to ensure key individuals can be reached during significant emergencies. The airport has already taken steps to ensure that its chief executive can be contacted through alternative means in the future.

 

The blackout stemmed from a fire at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, West London, which destroyed both the primary and backup systems. It was later revealed that the fire originated in a 57-year-old transformer and spread to an adjacent unit. A third, newer transformer then overloaded and cut out, severing one of the three main grid lines powering Heathrow. The National Energy System Operator called the event an “unprecedented” failure.

 

Critics from within the aviation industry questioned how such a catastrophic failure could result from the loss of a single substation. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, voiced strong disapproval of Woldbye’s absence during the initial response, saying, “I know what I would have done. I would have rushed to the airport at that moment. All CEOs are geared for that. You lead from the front and then you delegate back. I believe if Thomas had the opportunity again he would act differently, but that’s a question for him.”

 

Kelly’s review acknowledged that Heathrow staff responded effectively given the circumstances, managing to restore power later that day by reconfiguring the airport’s internal network. However, it also highlighted a significant vulnerability: while the loss of one grid line was deemed unlikely, staff had been reassured about the substation’s redundancy. Yet, it was known that such a failure would lead to at least an eight-hour shutdown. “This is a result of the way the infrastructure at the airport has been developed over 75 years,” the review noted, pointing out that immediate fixes are unlikely due to limited overnight maintenance windows and spatial constraints.

 

Heathrow has explored various upgrades in the past, including a ring configuration for its high voltage network and a direct connection to the national transmission grid. However, these projects were tied to long-delayed expansion plans, and National Grid has indicated that a direct line may not be possible before 2037.

 

Heathrow chairman Lord Deighton thanked the review committee for their work, stating, “This was an unprecedented set of circumstances, but the learnings identified in the Kelly Review will make Heathrow more fit for the future.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-30

 

 

Is he not entitled to sleep?

 

There is always a deputy on duty 24/7/365 who is awake for his shift and it is HIS job to sort out the problem. That is why he gets paid a lot of money.

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Heathrow CEO Slept Through Major Power Outage as Phone Was on Silent

 

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, remained asleep for the first seven hours of a major power outage that paralyzed Europe’s busiest airport because his mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge. According to an internal review led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, fellow Heathrow executives were unable to reach Woldbye after a fire at a substation caused a massive blackout on March 21, grounding thousands of flights and stranding an estimated 200,000 passengers.

 

The incident began at around 11:55pm, but Woldbye, who earned £3.2 million last year, was unaware of the unfolding crisis until approximately 6:45am the following morning. During this critical period, Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Javier Echave, repeatedly attempted to reach Woldbye and ultimately assumed leadership of the emergency response. Echave chaired crisis meetings and made the decision to close the airport for the remainder of the day.

 

The report clarifies earlier claims that Woldbye had knowingly gone to bed after learning about the outage. Instead, Kelly stated that the CEO was unaware of the incident and “expressed to us his deep regret at not being contactable during the night of the incident.” The review has since recommended that Heathrow adopt a dual notification system to ensure key individuals can be reached during significant emergencies. The airport has already taken steps to ensure that its chief executive can be contacted through alternative means in the future.

 

The blackout stemmed from a fire at the North Hyde substation in Hayes, West London, which destroyed both the primary and backup systems. It was later revealed that the fire originated in a 57-year-old transformer and spread to an adjacent unit. A third, newer transformer then overloaded and cut out, severing one of the three main grid lines powering Heathrow. The National Energy System Operator called the event an “unprecedented” failure.

 

Critics from within the aviation industry questioned how such a catastrophic failure could result from the loss of a single substation. Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, voiced strong disapproval of Woldbye’s absence during the initial response, saying, “I know what I would have done. I would have rushed to the airport at that moment. All CEOs are geared for that. You lead from the front and then you delegate back. I believe if Thomas had the opportunity again he would act differently, but that’s a question for him.”

 

Kelly’s review acknowledged that Heathrow staff responded effectively given the circumstances, managing to restore power later that day by reconfiguring the airport’s internal network. However, it also highlighted a significant vulnerability: while the loss of one grid line was deemed unlikely, staff had been reassured about the substation’s redundancy. Yet, it was known that such a failure would lead to at least an eight-hour shutdown. “This is a result of the way the infrastructure at the airport has been developed over 75 years,” the review noted, pointing out that immediate fixes are unlikely due to limited overnight maintenance windows and spatial constraints.

 

Heathrow has explored various upgrades in the past, including a ring configuration for its high voltage network and a direct connection to the national transmission grid. However, these projects were tied to long-delayed expansion plans, and National Grid has indicated that a direct line may not be possible before 2037.

 

Heathrow chairman Lord Deighton thanked the review committee for their work, stating, “This was an unprecedented set of circumstances, but the learnings identified in the Kelly Review will make Heathrow more fit for the future.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-30

 

 

when i was a CEO in Australia i had 2 phones ,one to home and one to my mistress 

4 minutes ago, portisaacozzy said:

when i was a CEO in Australia i had 2 phones ,one to home and one to my mistress 

 

 

A strategy that was no doubt learned from Pattaya bar girls.

 

 

How many phones did the mistress have?

3 hours ago, JAG said:

This fellow earns £3 million +, phone being on silent is a totally unacceptable excuse!

 

Suck it up buttercup.

 

Woldsys in the club and you ain't!

 

But why is he wearing a bulletproof vest in the picture?

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

Critics from within the aviation industry questioned how such a catastrophic failure could result from the loss of a single substation.

This is the real problem.

 

The CEO sleeping at night with his phone on silent has zero impact on the root causes of this obvious design flaw.

 

 

3 hours ago, johng said:

Should also have a landline  or even a direct line that only close colleagues could call..?

Landmine would have been even better.

On 5/30/2025 at 5:03 AM, Social Media said:

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, remained asleep for the first seven hours of a major power outage that paralyzed Europe’s busiest airport because his mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge.

 

Sure.  Accidental.  That's a good story and I'd stick to it.

 

Why's the guy on the left wearing a bulletproof vest?

 

35 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Sure.  Accidental.  That's a good story and I'd stick to it.

 

Why's the guy on the left wearing a bulletproof vest?

 

 

It is a puffer vest. Very infashion at the time. It is a lightweight equivalent of a sweater  but more efficient and lighter.

1 minute ago, Patong2021 said:

 

It is a puffer vest. Very infashion at the time. It is a lightweight equivalent of a sweater  but more efficient and lighter.

 

Another good story.  And I'd stick to it.

 

33 minutes ago, impulse said:

Another good story.  And I'd stick to it.

 

Fine. how do you know it is a "bullet proof vest"?  I appreciate that you are elderly, but  body armor does not look like that.

Executive body protection is always discrete and consists of the kevlar shell with a trauma pad, with some options including  ceramic plates over critical organs.   The man is wearing a puffer  vest.  I have one. It is for mild weather and is ideal for wearing under a jacket.

 

On 5/30/2025 at 4:03 AM, Social Media said:

The airport has already taken steps to ensure that its chief executive can be contacted through alternative means in the future.

 

I am at a loss to how him being available would have led to any speedier resolution here unless he is also the foremost expert on energy/power networks.   If the headline was "only guy who was capable of fixing the power outage was uncontactable due to having his phone on silent" then this would be newsworthy.  

 

His role is the one that happens after the event to ensure that this can never happen again, something that is easier accomplished with a clear head after having a full nights sleep.   

3 hours ago, James105 said:

 

I am at a loss to how him being available would have led to any speedier resolution here unless he is also the foremost expert on energy/power networks.   If the headline was "only guy who was capable of fixing the power outage was uncontactable due to having his phone on silent" then this would be newsworthy.  

 

His role is the one that happens after the event to ensure that this can never happen again, something that is easier accomplished with a clear head after having a full nights sleep.   

Agree with this.

 

But still, as the CEO of a company like this he should be reachable.

Give him a shock collar to wear.

Not buying the accidentally turned off phone ringer.  

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, remained asleep for the first seven hours of a major power outage that paralyzed Europe’s busiest airport because his mobile phone had switched to silent mode without his knowledge.

 

So what?  Nothing he could do to help, other than get in the way.   Big airport already has a crisis team in place to handle emergencies.  They just need to inform the big guy after the fact 'bout what they did.

On 5/30/2025 at 10:38 AM, klauskunkel said:

I just like his excuse:

it's similar to "the dog ate my homework"

Very easy to inadvertently hit the "silent" or "DND" option.