LONDON — Operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) faced sudden disruptions today following a grass fire near the airfield that forced the temporary closure of Runway 27 Left (27L). Air traffic controllers were compelled to transition the UK’s busiest hub to single-runway operations on Runway 27 Right (27R) until further notice.
Fire Response and Go-Arounds Reported
Airport fire and rescue crews responded swiftly to control the blaze burning in a grassy area adjacent to Runway 27L. While emergency services worked to contain the fire and ensure smoke did not compromise safety on the southern strip, incoming flights were quickly rerouted to the northern runway (27R).
The sudden switch in runway availability created immediate tactical challenges for air traffic control (ATC):
- Multiple Go-Arounds: Several approaching aircraft were instructed to perform go-arounds—aborting their final approaches at low altitude—to allow controllers time to adjust spacing and merge traffic onto Runway 27R safely.
- Holding Patterns: A number of inbound flights were held in stack patterns over Biggin Hill, Ockham, Bovingdon, and Lambourne as traffic sequenced for the single active runway.
- Departure Delays: With Runway 27R handling both arrivals and departures, ground holds and taxiway queues accumulated rapidly across all terminals.
Operational Impact Overview
| Parameter | Status |
| Affected Runway | 27L (Left) — Closed temporarily |
| Active Runway | 27R (Right) — Operating in single-runway mode UFN (Until Further Notice) |
| Flight Status | Widespread inbound holding and departure gate holds |
| Cause | Grass area fire adjacent to airfield south strip |
Airport officials advise all passengers traveling through Heathrow today to check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport, as consequential delays and potential air traffic flow management (ATFM) slots are expected throughout the evening.
UPDATES
Runway 27L will open at 18:45hrs. Aircraft will be departing on the southern runway 27L and arriving on runway 27R.
