A viral video uploaded to TikTok by user @london.ukcrimeldn has captured the unsettling scene inside one of the world’s busiest airports, showing a dark and deserted terminal in the middle of the night.
The footage, posted at around 3am and already viewed over 35,000 times, shows a person walking through an unrecognisably silent Heathrow.
READ MORE: LIVE updates as fire CLOSES Heathrow Airport with flights and trains cancelled
With the travel information boards boarded up and stores like WHSmith closed, the person can be heard saying “it’s so dark here, mate.”
@london.ukcrimeldn London Heathrow Airport has shut down because of power failures triggered by a large blaze at an electrical substation in the nearby area of Hayes #heathrowairport #london #hayes #fire ♬ original sound – London.ukcrime
The video paints a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of the airport, offering an almost post-apocalyptic view of the travel hub.
The footage comes after a massive power failure at Heathrow, triggered by a fire at the nearby North Hyde electrical substation.
More than 200,000 passengers have had their flights cancelled as the airport remains closed for the entirety of Friday.
Authorities have warned that disruption is expected to last several days as planes and flight crews have been displaced globally.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night, left thousands of homes without power and led to the evacuation of over 100 people.
READ MORE: Family who flew from Dallas to visit Greenwich stranded at Heathrow with young kids
With a damaged transformer affecting Heathrow’s power supply, passengers have been urged not to travel to the airport until further notice.
The closure has resulted in more than 1,350 flights being grounded, with some aircraft forced to turn back mid-journey or divert to other major airports, including Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Shannon Airport in Ireland.
Aviation experts have compared the scale of the disruption to past incidents such as the volcanic ash cloud crisis in 2010 and the September 11 attacks in 2001, emphasising the logistical challenges of resuming normal operations.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has stated that officials are investigating the cause of the substation failure, while emergency crews continue their work on-site.
