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Heathrow airport fire: Simon Calder answers your questions – from delayed flights to compensation and more

The Independent’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder, is here to answer your questions as a mysterious fire at the UK’s busiest airport disrupts thousands of flights

Friday 21 March 2025 17:13 GMT
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Passengers wait outside Heathrow Aiport
Passengers wait outside Heathrow Aiport (EPA)

Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent.

Keep scrolling for more. If you want to jump straight to the Q&A, click here.

Thousands of passengers are facing severe disruption after a massive fire ripped through an electricity substation near Heathrow airport, causing widespread power outages and flight cancellations.

With up to 300,000 travellers expected to pass through Europe’s busiest airport today, the unexpected outage has led to chaos, affecting thousands of flights. Passengers have been asked not to travel to Heathrow “under any circumstances,” while British Airways has suspended operations “until further notice.”

The cause of the fire remains unknown, though authorities have stated there is no indication of foul play. Energy minister Ed Miliband has described the incident as “unprecedented” and has called for an investigation into its causes and potential lessons for the future.

While Heathrow is set to reopen this evening, significant disruption remains. Many travellers have been left wondering about their rights, alternative travel options, and what to expect in the coming days.

So, if your flight has been affected, what are your options? What compensation are airlines required to provide? And what should travellers planning to fly in the coming days do?

I’ll be answering all your questions about the Heathrow chaos, passenger rights, and travel alternatives.

If you have a travel question, submit it now or join me live for our “Ask Me Anything” Q&A on Friday 21 March at 7pm GMT.

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