The Global Story How did one fire paralyse Europe's busiest airport?
Mar 25, 2025
Theo Leggett, the BBC’s international business correspondent, gives a gripping account of the chaos following a fire at Heathrow's power supply station. He discusses how this incident led to the cancellation of all flights, sparking widespread speculation and criticism of the airport’s contingency plans. The conversation unveils the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and the tension between private interests and public needs. Leggett emphasizes the urgent need for better preparedness to prevent such disruptions in the future, highlighting the implications for air travel worldwide.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Heathrow Power Outage
- Heathrow Airport experienced a major power outage due to a fire at a nearby substation.
- This led to flight cancellations, diversions, and widespread disruption.
Speculation and Investigation
- Speculation arose regarding the cause of the incident, including the possibility of sabotage or foreign interference, particularly from Russia.
- However, initial investigations did not suggest foul play.
Infrastructure Vulnerability
- Heathrow's power outage raised concerns about the vulnerability of major infrastructure.
- Experts questioned why there wasn't a seamless transition to backup power sources.