Several flights will be affected this Friday at Malaga airport, as Heathrow in London has closed completely due to a «significant power reduction» as a result of a fire at an electrical substation in the British city of Hayes.
The two affected flights are one arrival at 10:50 am and a departure scheduled for 11:45 am from Malaga airport, according to Aenei Fuentes to Europa Press, indicating that the rest of the Andalusian airports did not have planned connections with this London airport.
Heathrow will remain closed until 23:59 on March 21 to ensure the safety of passengers. Additionally, passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and to contact the airline for more information.
The London Fire Department reported that a transformer at a power station in Hayes, west of London, is on fire, with a dozen units and about 70 firefighters «battling the blaze.»
Deputy Commissioner Pat Goulbourne explained that the flames «caused a reduction in electricity affecting a large number of local homes and businesses,» while «working closely with partners to minimize disruptions.»
As mentioned, agents rescued 29 people from nearby properties, and as a precaution, a 200-meter cordon was established, evacuating around 150 people. Due to the amount of smoke, residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed.
«This is a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in difficult conditions to control the fire as soon as possible,» he said, emphasizing that the cause of the fire is currently unknown.
As reported by Aena, the Spanish airport network had 59 planned operations with Heathrow airport: 29 in Madrid, 19 in Barcelona, two in Malaga, two in Tenerife Sur, and two in Valencia.
Before the closure of Heathrow due to an electrical fault, the airport manager advised those affected to consult with the airline.
