Thousands of travelers, including college student Warren Hu and trading firm worker Lukas Zou, faced flight disruptions on Friday due to a fire near London’s Heathrow Airport. The fire at an electrical substation led to the closure of the airport, one of the world’s busiest, with authorities warning that flight disruptions could last for days.
Heathrow serves as a hub for dozens of airlines flying to about 180 destinations worldwide. The closure forced planes already in the air to divert to other airports, affecting up to 290,000 passengers. Airlines such as British Airways, American Airlines, and Qantas had to redirect or cancel flights to Heathrow.
Passengers waiting at airports around the world, such as in Rome and Singapore, were left unsure of their travel plans as flights to Heathrow were either diverted or canceled. High school students from Arizona were among those affected, missing their connecting flights and facing uncertainty.
Despite the chaos, travelers like Mr. Hu and Mr. Zou remained hopeful for a solution to their disrupted travel plans. Airlines worked to accommodate affected passengers by arranging hotel rooms and rescheduling flights.
The closure of Heathrow Airport due to the fire created a ripple effect across the global aviation industry, impacting travelers from various continents. As airlines scrambled to adjust their schedules and passengers faced uncertainty, the full extent of the disruption caused by the incident was yet to be fully realized.
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