Chaos engulfed the West London site after two explosions ripped through an electrical substation in nearby Hayes, wiping out power to the airport.
Travellers across the globe faced huge delays and a desperate scramble to reach their destinations.
A Heathrow spokesman last night said eight long-haul flights were set to leave the airport from 7pm, including two to South Africa, one to Saudi Arabia and one to Australia, after power was restored.
The police investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers, but the Transport Secretary insisted this was because they had the resources - rather than due to suspicions of sabotage.
Heidi Alexander said: "The counter-terrorism command has specific capacities that mean that they are used to conducting investigations at pace, and it's really important that we identify the cause of this quickly.
"There are no suggestions at the moment of foul play. But you will appreciate the investigation keeps an open mind, and our priority is identifying the cause as soon as possible."
Last night, Met Police Commander Simon Messinger said: "At this stage there remains no indication of any foul play. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains in its early stages.
"After initial assessment, we are not treating this incident as suspicious, although inquiries do remain ongoing.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1742608563/articles/mzROxI6x3ds39AKiGPsys/2219126160.jpg]
"Due to the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met's counter-terrorism command are leading our inquiries into this matter." Officers will continue "to build a picture of the circumstances surrounding the fire" with specialist investigators "expected to take some time before full assessments can be completed".
A spokesman for the Met Police said: "We are working with the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation. We retain an open mind at this time." London Fire Brigade said the blaze "is believed to be nonsuspicious" and the investigation will "focus on the electrical distribution equipment".
Heathrow's Terminals Two and Four were without power all day yesterday as the disruption spread.
Crisis
There were 120 planes in the air due to land at Heathrow when the closure was announced early yesterday.
Jonathan Smith, Deputy Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, said the blaze late on Thursday night created a major hazard due to the still-live high voltage equipment.
At one point, 67,000 properties in West London were without power and 150 residents were evacuated from their homes as 70 firefighters tackled the inferno.
Vaneca Sinclair, 64, who was ordered from her home 100 yards from the substation, said: "Suddenly there was this huge bang and the house just shook.
"I just saw the whole substation up in flames. It was just crazy." Mathew Muirhead, 42, added: "It was 11.30pm when we saw it.
"We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in tow...
Travellers across the globe faced huge delays and a desperate scramble to reach their destinations.
A Heathrow spokesman last night said eight long-haul flights were set to leave the airport from 7pm, including two to South Africa, one to Saudi Arabia and one to Australia, after power was restored.
The police investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers, but the Transport Secretary insisted this was because they had the resources - rather than due to suspicions of sabotage.
Heidi Alexander said: "The counter-terrorism command has specific capacities that mean that they are used to conducting investigations at pace, and it's really important that we identify the cause of this quickly.
"There are no suggestions at the moment of foul play. But you will appreciate the investigation keeps an open mind, and our priority is identifying the cause as soon as possible."
Last night, Met Police Commander Simon Messinger said: "At this stage there remains no indication of any foul play. The investigation into the cause of the fire remains in its early stages.
"After initial assessment, we are not treating this incident as suspicious, although inquiries do remain ongoing.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1742608563/articles/mzROxI6x3ds39AKiGPsys/2219126160.jpg]
"Due to the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met's counter-terrorism command are leading our inquiries into this matter." Officers will continue "to build a picture of the circumstances surrounding the fire" with specialist investigators "expected to take some time before full assessments can be completed".
A spokesman for the Met Police said: "We are working with the London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation. We retain an open mind at this time." London Fire Brigade said the blaze "is believed to be nonsuspicious" and the investigation will "focus on the electrical distribution equipment".
Heathrow's Terminals Two and Four were without power all day yesterday as the disruption spread.
Crisis
There were 120 planes in the air due to land at Heathrow when the closure was announced early yesterday.
Jonathan Smith, Deputy Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, said the blaze late on Thursday night created a major hazard due to the still-live high voltage equipment.
At one point, 67,000 properties in West London were without power and 150 residents were evacuated from their homes as 70 firefighters tackled the inferno.
Vaneca Sinclair, 64, who was ordered from her home 100 yards from the substation, said: "Suddenly there was this huge bang and the house just shook.
"I just saw the whole substation up in flames. It was just crazy." Mathew Muirhead, 42, added: "It was 11.30pm when we saw it.
"We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in tow...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 22, 2025