Heathrow runway 27L closed after grass fire destroys one hectare
Flights diverted to single runway for 13 hours following early-morning blaze on 6 August 2026
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Heathrow Airport closed its southern runway 27L on 6 August 2026 after a fire destroyed one hectare of grass adjacent to the tarmac. The blaze began at 5:37 am, forcing the airport to switch to single-runway operations on 27R for 13 hours.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed crews were called to the scene and worked alongside Heathrow’s own fire service. By 6:07 pm, the fire was under control. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains unclear.
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Flights diverted, delays expected
Heathrow Airport said in a statement that runway 27L would reopen by 6:45 pm. British Airways flight BA179 to New York’s JFK Airport was the first to depart after the runway resumed operations. The airport warned passengers to expect ongoing delays.
We are now expecting to get runway 27L back at 18:45hrs. We'll be departing on the southern runway 27L and arriving on runway 27R. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Heathrow Airport spokesperson
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A Heathrow spokesperson described the incident as a "small grass fire" but confirmed the precautionary closure. The airport’s fire service assisted in extinguishing the blaze, which was contained by early evening.
What happens next
Heathrow has not announced any further investigations into the cause of the fire. Passengers affected by delays were advised to check with their airlines for updates. The airport has not released figures on the number of flights disrupted.
Questions this report answers
+How long was Heathrow’s runway 27L closed after the fire?
Runway 27L was closed for 13 hours, from 5:37 am to 6:45 pm on 6 August 2026. Heathrow switched operations to runway 27R during this time, causing flight delays.
+Which flight was the first to resume after the runway reopened?
British Airways flight BA179 to New York’s JFK Airport was the first to depart after runway 27L reopened at 6:45 pm. Heathrow confirmed the flight resumed service shortly after.
+Was anyone injured in the Heathrow grass fire?
No injuries were reported in the fire, which destroyed one hectare of grass near runway 27L. The London Fire Brigade and Heathrow’s fire service contained the blaze by 6:07 pm.
+What caused the fire near Heathrow’s runway?
The cause of the fire remains unclear. Heathrow described it as a "small grass fire" and has not announced any further investigations into the incident.
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