Insurance industry responds to large fire that shut Heathrow Airport

The ABI has told travellers stranded at Heathrow Airport following a large fire to get in touch with their insurers.

The blaze broke out at an electrical substation in Nestles Avenue, Hayes, this morning (21 March 2025), with 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters at the scene.

With the electrical substation supplying Heathrow Airport, the airport has been forced to close for the whole of Friday.

Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said that travellers should check their policy details and speak to their insurer if needed.

He added: “People will naturally be concerned about their travel plans following the fire near Heathrow Airport.

“If your flight is cancelled, refunds should be sought from the airline or tour operator in the first instance. Any bookings made through a credit card may also have recoverable costs. If your travel insurance policy includes trip disruption, you should be covered if you have to cancel your travel plans.

”Check your policy details and speak to your insurer if you’re not sure what is included.”

Simon McCulloch, chief growth officer at Staysure, added: “Those affected and unable to reschedule a flight to take place within 24 hours of the cancellation, may be eligible to claim on their travel insurance for delays depending on the specifics of their cover.

“If they have travel disruption cover as part of their insurance which is included as standard on Staysure’s Signature policy they may be covered for instances like this but best to check as all policies vary.”

Investigation

London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) fire investigators are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on the investigation into the cause of the fire.

LFB’s assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This was a very visible and significant incident and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.

“Thanks to their efforts and coordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread.

“We will maintain a presence at the scene throughout the day, assisting the National Grid as they assess the site.

“The fire has caused a widespread power outage, affecting many homes, local businesses and Heathrow Airport. While power has been restored to some properties, we continue to work closely with our partners to minimise disruption.”

LFB also advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as some smoke will remain for a number of hours today.