Heathrow airport in London defended its actions during the recent shutdown caused by a fire that damaged the main substation supplying power to the hub. The airport stated that due to its size and complexity, operating without interruption was not feasible. This response was prompted by comments made by National Grid Plc CEO John Pettigrew suggesting that there were sufficient backup power options to keep Heathrow running.

Criticism arose regarding the airport's lack of redundancy systems and the decision-making process of its CEO, Thomas Woldbye, who delegated the decision to shut down flights to a deputy. British Airways' chief Sean Doyle worked tirelessly to reroute flights to minimize disruptions.

Acknowledging the disruptions caused, Woldbye expressed regret and emphasized that the decisions were made prioritizing passenger safety. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern over the airport's closure and called for accountability from Heathrow's management.

Heathrow resumed limited flights after the incident, with services gradually returning to normal over the weekend. The UK government initiated an independent inquiry to investigate the cause of the substation fire, while Heathrow launched its own internal review to evaluate its response.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander refrained from commenting on Woldbye's status until the investigation results are available. Alexander mentioned that she had further discussions with Woldbye, awaiting the outcome of the investigations before making a conclusive statement.