Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye admitted to sleeping through multiple emergency calls on March 21 regarding a fire at a nearby electrical substation that caused the airport's closure and cancellation of 1,300 flights, affecting 270,000 passengers. Woldbye, in his first interview since the incident, stated that his phone was on silent, causing him to miss two emergency notifications and several calls. He learned of the situation around 6:45 am, after the airport had already ceased operations in the early hours of the 21st. He claims that despite his absence, the airport's crisis management procedures functioned effectively.

A review by former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly detailed Woldbye's missed communications. The fire, caused by a known fault at the substation owned by National Grid since 2018, resulted in millions of pounds in losses for Heathrow, which reported a 37.2% drop in pre-tax profit to £203m in the first half of 2025. Heathrow is considering legal action against National Grid.

Impact Statement: The incident highlights significant operational risks and potential financial repercussions for airports due to external power failures, as well as the importance of robust communication systems.