When Sleep Turns to Chaos: Heathrow's Boss Blindsided by Airport Fire

In a stunning admission, Heathrow’s CEO Thomas Woldbye expressed his frustration over sleeping through critical emergency calls during a fire incident in March that led to the closure of the airport and the cancellation of 1,300 flights. Speaking with the BBC’s Today programme, Woldbye acknowledged that this lapse was atypical for him, yet he maintained that all necessary actions had been taken on an operational level during the crisis.

The fire, which originated from a nearby electrical substation, caused significant disruptions, affecting around 270,000 passengers and leading to what Woldbye termed a loss amounting to millions. He refrained from specifying an exact figure, but the impact was evident as Heathrow’s pre-tax profit plummeted by 37.2%, totaling £203 million in the first half of 2025.

A detailed review by former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly revealed that Woldbye missed vital notifications due to his mobile phone being on silent mode. Having been alerted only at 6:45 AM the next day, he stated his contentment with the crisis management measures that had been conducted despite his absence. He emphasized the importance of an organization’s ability to handle emergencies effectively, whether or not the leadership is present.

Further investigations into the fire indicated that it stemmed from a known fault at the substation, which the National Grid had neglected to rectify since 2018. With the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) report identifying significant failings by National Grid, Heathrow is contemplating legal action against the company for its accountability in the incident. With electricity usage comparable to a small city, the stakes for Heathrow are high as it faces continued operational challenges stemming from this incident.