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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Sam Hall

DARK SECRETS: Heathrow airport had enough power to avoid shutdown after fire | Rare Historical Photos

  • Heathrow Airport had sufficient power from its remaining substations despite a fire causing a major power outage and flight disruptions.
  • National Grid CEO John Pettigrew said two substations were always available, each capable of powering the entire airport.
  • Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye previously mentioned a backup transformer failure, necessitating system shutdowns for safety and power restructuring.
  • A 2014 report highlighted a vulnerability in Heathrow's power supply, but deemed on-site generation adequate for recovery.
  • An investigation into the fire and a review of Heathrow's crisis management are underway.

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