Heathrow closure throws journey plans into chaos – as weddings, rugby excursions and Arctic Circle journeys affected

Hundreds of passengers are going through delays and cancellations after Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, was compelled to shut following a fireplace at a close-by substation.

Travellers heading to weddings, the Arctic Circle, rugby matches and birthdays have been left scrambling to seek out options.

Round 1,357 flights have been affected, in keeping with knowledge from Flight Radar.

Observe reside updates on Heathrow closure

Alex Wiffen says the London Irish Underneath 12s rugby staff have had the “journey of a lifetime” to Dublin thrown into disarray.

Forty-five women and boys have been alleged to graduate from minis to their first junior rugby video games this weekend after fundraising for the journey for a yr, he mentioned.

“It is a journey that is been occurring for 40 years and it is the inaugural journey for the ladies’ staff,” says Alex.

“Our flights at 8am this morning have been cancelled and now there is no such thing as a approach to get to Dublin.”

Learn extra: What are your rights in case your flight is delayed or cancelled?

The gamers and 70 dad and mom at the moment are simply “praying we will get there ASAP” earlier than their first match towards Clontarf Rugby Membership tomorrow morning.

Lengthy-awaited finest buddy’s wedding ceremony

One lady in Minneapolis mentioned her husband would miss his finest buddy’s wedding ceremony after their flight was rotated over the Atlantic Ocean.

“This wedding ceremony is a large deal as a result of it obtained postponed attributable to Covid, then their toddler obtained leukaemia,” she mentioned.

“Now the marriage is lastly occurring. We’re so gutted,” she mentioned, including it was the household’s first worldwide flight.

“We’re again in our automotive in Minneapolis heading house at 2.40am with our toddlers wakeful within the again seat questioning why we aren’t in London.”

Husky-sledding within the Arctic Circle

John Climpson mentioned he was up at 3am to fly out to the north of Sweden to begin a 240km husky sledding problem within the Arctic Circle.

“Now the entire journey is perhaps cancelled,” he mentioned.

“Everyone seems to be now desperately attempting to rebook lodge rooms on the Terminal 2 Premier Inn.”

From Derby to DC for fiftieth birthday

Virgin Atlantic passenger Andy was alleged to be flying from Heathrow to Washington DC immediately to begin his fiftieth birthday celebrations.

As a substitute, he is caught in a lodge room he booked for final evening to interrupt up the journey day.

“I reside in Derby – and I am uncertain whether or not to remain in London or go house and wait to listen to extra,” he mentioned.

Heathrow has cancelled all flights till midnight on Friday.

U-turn to the US

Rafa, from London, was on a flight from Dallas when the pilot U-turned at 4am.

“Can not imagine that Heathrow, one of many world’s busiest and finest airports, is just not working on some type of unbiased energy to hold on operations,” he mentioned.

“And the choice made to show round to America is loopy contemplating what number of flight choices [there] are from Germany and France again to the UK.”

He added: “Nightmare on all accounts.”