Richard Tice claims Heathrow shutdown after substation fireplace was ‘brought on by airport eliminating its diesel back-up for Net Zero various’

A British MP today claimed that the drive for Net Zero led to the complete shutdown of Heathrow. 

One industry source told Reform MP Richard Tice Heathrow is moving from diesel back-up generators to biomass and the system failed ‘at the first time of asking’ when a local electrical substation went up in flames. 

At least 220,000 passengers have been left stranded in Britain and around the world after an electrical fire shut the airport for at least 24 hours – with the level of global travel chaos sparked by the outage being compared to 9/11. 

The UK’s busiest airport was forced to close on Friday after its main power substation exploded and set alight less than two miles away in the west London suburb of Hayes. 

The complete closure of Heathrow due to the loss of just one electrical substation is unprecedented and raises major questions for the airport and the Government. It has also left many stranded travellers raging and reduced to tears. 

Mr Tice said on GB News: ‘It appears that Heathrow had changed its backup systems in order to be, wait for it…Net Zero compliant’.

‘They had got rid of their diesel generators and had moved towards a biomass generator that was designed not to completely replace the grid but work alongside it. Their net zero compliant backup system has completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking’.

MailOnline has asked Heathrow to comment on Mr Tice’s claims. Its 2022 Net Zero plan confirms it is ‘investigating renewable-based alternatives that can still meet the stringent performance criteria’ – but it is not clear how far along those plans are.

Senior sources at the airport have insisted that Heathrow does have back-up power systems but ‘activating contingencies for the whole airport requires some time’ and ‘isn’t immediate’, one insider said to The Times. Bosses are expected to be hauled before Parliament to explain.

Julian Bray, one of the UK’s leading aviation experts said: ‘We are all amazed that Heathrow does not have a viable standby independent of the grid emergency power supply but relies on the National Grid. It’s not as if Heathrow is short of money – it has a substantial war chest for building the third runway’.

As Heathrow is shut down sparking worldwide travel carnage:

Around 220,000 people were due to travel through Heathrow today and the chaos from the complete closure will rumble on over the weekend and into next week because aircraft and passengers are now in the wrong place all over the world.

At least 1,357 flights have already been cancelled, diverted or delayed today. Some planes already on their way London managed to land at other UK airports – but many including Gatwick are now full.

Dozens of flights have been diverted to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Lyon and other European cities, stranding tens of thousands of people abroad. Some planes were even forced to turn back and set down in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Delhi, where Air India has now cancelled all its flights to London.

British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Air Canada and Delta have suffered the largest number of cancellations and diversions. 

Aviation consultant John Strickland 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’. 

More than 16,300 homes in west London are also suffering from blackouts on Friday. All trains to Heathrow have also been cancelled. Coach operator National Express announced it has suspended all services to Heathrow.

It is the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010, costing airlines and its customers an estimated £130million every day.

The airport, which sees a plane land or take off every 45 seconds, announced its closure at 2am on Friday and ordered passengers not to come to its terminals.

The fire broke out at around 11.30pm on Thursday, and despite firefighters working throughout the night to bring it under control, part of the transformer remains alight. 

Police have launched a major incident as investigators look into the cause of the fire, which is out and is being damped down by specialist firefighters in breathing apparatus this morning.

A local resident said a ‘bright flash of white’ lit up the sky when the explosion happened.

Mathew Muirhead was working a night shift on Thursday when he noticed smoke rising from the electrical substation.

‘We were stood outside our branch in Hayes and my colleague noticed smoke coming over the trees,’ the 42-year-old told PA.

‘It was 23.30 when we saw it, we were heading to West Drayton, so we went to check it out, we heard the sirens as we were headed to Bulls Bridge roundabout.

‘We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in town went out.

‘My wife rang me and told me our electric was out – I found out a few hours later that Heathrow was completely shut down.’

A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: ‘Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. 

‘To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.’

A British couple stuck in China have ‘no idea’ how they will get home after their flight was cancelled.

Sharon Towers and her husband told MailOnline they are stranded in the airport as strict immigration policy means they can’t check into a hotel.

She said: ‘My husband and I are stuck in China.

‘We should have taken off at 1pm local time here Instead we are stuck at the airport with no idea how and when we will get home!

‘We can’t check in to a hotel because of the strict immigration visa policy, to enter back in to the airport, we need a boarding pass so customs can confirm when we are leaving the country.

‘We don’t know that, so we cant get a boarding pass to enter back in to the airport’.

Passengers affected by the closure have shared their anguish on social media. 

One person wrote: ‘There’s a major fire at Heathrow Airport so my flight has now been diverted to Washington and diverted. 

‘No clue what happens next. I just want to go home and see my family.’

Another added: ‘Today my flight from Heathrow has been cancelled so what should I do now? My mum is not well and I have to go and see her ASAP.’  

Flights set to land at Heathrow are already being diverted, with Flightradar24 saying it would affect at least 1,351 flight to and from Heathrow. 

‘That doesn’t include any flights that might be canceled or delayed due to aircraft being out of position,’ the flight tracker site said in a statement.

That means as many as 145,000 travelers could be affected by the closure, according to aviation-data firm Cirium. 

FlightRadar24 spokesman Ian Petchenik said that the unplanned closure of Heathrow Airport will disrupt flights all over the world.

‘Heathrow is one of the major hubs of the world,’ he told the Telegraph. ‘This is going to disrupt airlines’ operations around the world.’

Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports for international travel. It had its busiest January on record earlier this year, with more than 6.3 million passengers, up more than 5 per cent for the same period last year. 

January also was the 11th month in a row it averaged over 200,000 passengers a day, with the airport citing transatlantic travel as a key contributor. 

Flight Radar said it expected there to be 220,000 passengers today. 

European airports are dealing with an influx of planes that are too far into their journeys to turn back and have to be diverted to their airports.

Meanwhile, rail services to and from Heathrow have been cancelled for Friday, National Rail said in a statement. 

The Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 4 and also between Shenfield / Abbey Wood and Heathrow Terminal 5 have been suspended, with Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 also being cancelled.

Footage of the blaze shows large clouds of smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters are trying to put out the fire, while videos from inside Heathrow showed the airport lying largely dark amid the power outage. 

The fire has left thousands of West London properties without power.

More than 70 firefighters and ten fire engines have rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze. 

Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution. 

Firefighters have advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed to stop the ‘significant’ amount of smoke entering their homes.

One witness told LBC: ‘I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion.’ 

Another posted a video of the blaze on X writing: ‘Scary scenes in Hayes. Power cut and massive fire.’

A local resident claimed that ‘all the power is out for the entire area up to Hounslow.’ 

According to the Powertrack site, around 16,000 households are thought to be affected. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the a large-scale power outage in the surrounding areas. 

The London Fire Brigade said in a statement during the early hours of Friday: ‘Around 20 people have been evacuated from neighbouring properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution with around 150 people evacuated.

‘The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed. 

‘The Brigade’s Control Officers have taken almost 200 calls to the fire. The first call was received at 10.23pm and crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene.’ 

In a further statement around 3am, the fire brigade warned: ‘Crews remain at the scene of the fire in #Hayes – please continue to keep windows & doors closed due to smoke & avoid the area. This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night.’

Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade Pat Goulbourne said: ‘This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.

‘The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption.

‘Firefighters have led 29 people to safety from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established, with around 150 people evacuated.

‘Due to the significant amount of smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed. Control Officers have handled nearly 200 calls, offering vital guidance and reassurance to the public.

‘This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night. As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.’

The cause of the fire remains unknown. 

No injuries have so far been reported.