Key points from the recent Heathrow Airport situation:

• Heathrow faced an 18-hour shutdown due to a power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation.
• Approximately 1,350 flights were canceled, affecting around 200,000 passengers globally.
• The UK government has ordered an investigation into the incident, with initial findings expected in six weeks.
• Concerns have been raised about the airport's disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.

Heathrow Airport declared it was "fully operational" after nearly a day-long closure caused by a power outage linked to an electrical substation fire. However, thousands of passengers remain stranded, with airlines warning of severe disruptions continuing for several days as they work to manage the backlog, according to Times of India.

The fire, which broke out near the airport, raised significant questions regarding the reliability of this critical piece of national infrastructure, with concerns echoing from government officials and industry leaders alike. Britain’s Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “We are determined to properly understand what happened and what lessons need to be learned.” The British government has launched an urgent investigation aimed at uncovering the circumstances surrounding the fire and the airport's response.

Despite claims from the National Grid's CEO that there was sufficient power available to keep Heathrow operational, airport officials explained that operational complexities and the need for safety checks required a complete shutdown. Critiques of Heathrow's disaster management surfaced, particularly following statements by aviation experts expressing concerns over apparent vulnerabilities in airport infrastructure.

The authorities reported that more than 1,300 flights were canceled, stranding about 200,000 passengers after the electrical substation failure caused operational chaos. Former British Airways CEO and current head of the International Air Transport Association Willie Walsh lamented the incident as a clear planning failure, highlighting that “critical infrastructure should not be dependent on a single power source without an alternative.”

In the aftermath of the crisis, Heathrow’s management has faced scrutiny regarding their decisions and response protocols. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander remarked that the upcoming government investigation would focus on what lessons could be learned to prevent future occurrences. "It’s imperative we identify how this power failure happened and learn from this to ensure a vital piece of national infrastructure remains strong," she stated, suggesting that organizational shortcomings could have exacerbated the impact of the outage.

Meanwhile, industry stakeholders are advocating for improved infrastructure resilience across airports to prevent similar incidents in the future. The onset of renewable energy trends and changes in global travel demand necessitate a reevaluation of contingency plans and crisis management systems in airports worldwide, particularly those reliant on centralized power systems as was evident at Heathrow. For updates on this developing story, visit BBC and NYTimes.