Heathrow Airport hearth ‘contained model of 9/11’ because it’s in comparison with terror assault
Leading aviation expert John Strickland has said that the devastating impact of Heathrow is comparable to the September 11 terrorist attacks or Icelandic volcanic ash cloud
An expert has compared the impacts of the Heathrow fire to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US as thousands are left stranded.
Worldwide travel plans have been thrown into chaos as Heathrow Airport has been forced to close for the whole day due to a huge blaze. More than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted today (March 21) after a major blaze at a nearby electrical substation.
Aviation expert John Strickland has compared the impact on flights from the closure of Heathrow to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001 and the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud in April 2010.
He said: “It’s a contained version of 9/11 or, to an extent, the Icelandic volcanic eruption. I remembered seeing on those occasions – particularly more so on 9/11 – it happened so quick and then US airspace was closed, they were turning back aircraft and holding planes.
“That’s the parallel I would make. Heathrow being such a busy airport and full, there’s no kind of wriggle room for getting out of these kind of things.”
Social media is ablaze with conspiracy as the cause of the fire has not yet been released, and asking if Russia is involved.
Ukrainian blogger DevanaUkraine wrote on X: “Power station near Heathrow in flames – and no, I don’t believe in coincidences. Not after Putin suddenly ordered to stop striking Ukraine’s power grid. Not while London pushes for peacekeeping efforts. This is fear. This is hatred. This is Putin’s way of saying: “I’ll burn everything before I lose.” This isn’t just about Ukraine. This is a threat to NATO. And the sooner the world wakes up, the more chance we have to stop him.”
Another user wrote: “We are already in a hybrid war. Putin is paying criminals to conduct acts of sabotage and terror here. Stopping Heathrow with one well aimed act.”
A third wrote: “Someone smart, fair & unbribable better investigate this #Heathrow fire immediately because the timing is just too suspicious and the “attack an electrical substation to cause chaos for civilians” move is too painfully familiar. I hope this is an accident, not a warning shot.”
As the fire broke out overnight, some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced, with some turned around and others diverted to Gatwick Airport outside London, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris or Ireland’s Shannon Airport, tracking services showed.
London Ambulance Service said. Hazardous area response teams and an incident response officer are currently on the scene, they said. “We are currently supporting emergency services colleagues at the scene of a fire in Hayes,” a spokesperson said. “Please try to avoid the area and, if you live nearby, stay indoors and keep windows closed.”
Alongside the Heathrow closure, some 100,000 homes were without power overnight. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told BBC Breakfast: “My understanding from the grid is 100,000 homes were without power as a result of this fire overnight. The figure they gave to me a short time ago was that that’s down now to 4,000. But, obviously, this is a fast-moving situation and we will be doing everything we can to work with grid on the work they’re doing to restore power.”
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