Airport Authority Handled Power Outage Effectively Despite CEO's Absence, as Per Record's Account
Following an internal review commissioned by Heathrow Airport, it was confirmed that the airport effectively managed the power outage incident in March, despite its CEO sleeping through a crucial decision on whether to halt operations. The review, led by former Secretary of State for Transport and board member Ruth Kelly, found that more than 200,000 passengers worldwide faced disruption as the airport opted to stop operations following a fire at the nearby North Hyde substation.
The incident, which is estimated to have cost the airline industry nearly £100 million, sparked intense scrutiny over Heathrow's crisis management. The review's findings claimed that Heathrow made the "right decisions on the day," ensuring safety without causing harm to anyone. The airport has already committed to increasing investments in energy resilience as part of its strategy.
The review revealed that Heathrow's CEO, who faced criticism for reportedly sleeping through the night of the fire, had his phone on silent mode, preventing him from receiving critical alerts and calls during the incident. The airport's chief operating officer attempted to call the sleeping CEO several times, but was unable to reach him.
Former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, in a statement following the report's publication, stated that while the disruption was significant, alternative choices on the day would not have altered the outcome. Kelly also noted that Heathrow had contingency plans and improvements in energy resilience were key to reducing the impact of any similar events in the future.
National Grid, which operates the North Hyde substation alongside SSEN, had claimed that Heathrow had sufficient power to remain open. However, the review found there may have been opportunities to open parts of the airport earlier, though this would likely have only been a few hours.
The review provided 28 recommendations, including improving communication between Heathrow and power distributor SSEN and assessing whether backup generators could provide added resilience. Furthermore, the report emphasized the necessity of prompt and reliable communication methods for key individuals during critical incidents.
- The review revealed that Heathrow Airport needs to enhance its communication with power distributor SSEN for improved emergency management.
- The incident at Heathrow Airport, despite the airport CEO sleeping through a crucial decision, demonstrated the importance of reliable communication methods during critical events.
- Following the power outage incident, Heathrow Airport acknowledged the need to invest more in energy resilience to reduce the impact of similar events in the future.
- The review's findings pointed towards opportunities to open parts of Heathrow Airport earlier, potentially minimizing the disruption caused by the power outage.
- In the sphere of policy and legislation, improvements in energy resilience and communication within the transport industry are crucial in ensuring better crisis management and general news reporting.
