A recently released report confirms that the March fire at Heathrow Airport's power substation was caused by an electrical fault that had been identified as early as 2018 but left unresolved.The fire forced the airport to shut down for nearly 18 hours, canceling over 1,300 flights and affecting more than 270,000 passengers.
The investigation revealed that moisture had compromised the substation's insulation system, which was never replaced.This led to overheating and eventual ignition.The fire suppression system, which had been deactivated since 2022, further contributed to the severity of the incident.
Ofgem, the UK's energy regulator, has launched an official investigation into the National Grid.The government announced plans to reinforce inspections of critical power infrastructure and reinstate all decommissioned fire protection systems nationwide.
