Publication date:
May 29, 2025
Heathrow Airport Faces Scrutiny After CEO Sleeps Through Major Power Outage
An inquiry found that Heathrow Airport's CEO was unreachable for over 6 hours during a massive power outage that disrupted 200,000 passengers.
Infrastructure
A recent inquiry into a major power outage at London Heathrow Airport has revealed significant communication failures during the crisis, particularly concerning the airport's CEO, Thomas Woldbye. The incident, which occurred on March 21, resulted from a fire at a nearby electrical substation and led to the shutdown of Europe's busiest airport, affecting approximately 200,000 passengers.
The review, led by independent Heathrow board member and former UK transportation secretary Ruth Kelly, found that Woldbye was unreachable for over six hours after the initial problems began shortly after midnight. The CEO's phone was on silent mode, preventing him from hearing the first alarm or multiple calls from the chief operating officer, Javier Echave.
Unable to contact Woldbye, Echave made the decision to suspend airport operations. Woldbye only became aware of the situation around 6:45 a.m., more than five hours after the airport had been shut down. While both executives stated that Woldbye's involvement would not have altered the decision to halt operations, the incident has raised questions about the airport's emergency response protocols.
The inquiry has recommended 27 improvements, including enhancing the notification process for critical incidents. Specifically, it suggests implementing a second means of contacting key individuals during emergencies. Heathrow has reportedly taken steps to implement these recommendations.
Despite the significant disruption, the review concluded that alternative choices on the day would not have materially changed the outcome. The report also highlighted that further planned investment in energy resilience will be crucial in mitigating the impact of similar events in the future.
This incident underscores the importance of robust communication systems and contingency plans in critical infrastructure, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors. As airports and other key facilities continue to face various challenges, including power outages and other unforeseen events, the lessons learned from this Heathrow incident may inform improvements in crisis management across the industry.
The review, led by independent Heathrow board member and former UK transportation secretary Ruth Kelly, found that Woldbye was unreachable for over six hours after the initial problems began shortly after midnight. The CEO's phone was on silent mode, preventing him from hearing the first alarm or multiple calls from the chief operating officer, Javier Echave.
Unable to contact Woldbye, Echave made the decision to suspend airport operations. Woldbye only became aware of the situation around 6:45 a.m., more than five hours after the airport had been shut down. While both executives stated that Woldbye's involvement would not have altered the decision to halt operations, the incident has raised questions about the airport's emergency response protocols.
The inquiry has recommended 27 improvements, including enhancing the notification process for critical incidents. Specifically, it suggests implementing a second means of contacting key individuals during emergencies. Heathrow has reportedly taken steps to implement these recommendations.
Despite the significant disruption, the review concluded that alternative choices on the day would not have materially changed the outcome. The report also highlighted that further planned investment in energy resilience will be crucial in mitigating the impact of similar events in the future.
This incident underscores the importance of robust communication systems and contingency plans in critical infrastructure, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors. As airports and other key facilities continue to face various challenges, including power outages and other unforeseen events, the lessons learned from this Heathrow incident may inform improvements in crisis management across the industry.
