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London's Heathrow Terminal 4 reopens after hazardous materials incident

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 8, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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LONDON (Reuters) -One of the four terminals at London's Heathrow Airport has been closed and evacuated while emergency services respond to an incident, the airport said on Monday. "Please do not

Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 Reopens Following Hazardous Incident

Overview of the Incident

LONDON (Reuters) - One of the four terminals at London's Heathrow Airport that was evacuated earlier on Monday over what emergency services called a "possible hazardous materials incident" has now reopened after it was declared safe, the airport said in an update.

Response from Emergency Services

Heathrow - Europe's busiest airport - apologised for the disruption, saying on social media platform X that it was "doing everything we can" to ensure all flights depart as planned.

Impact on Passengers and Flights

Separately, a spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said that it was standing down its response to the incident.

Historical Context of Airport Disruptions

The British airport's Terminal 4 - serving both European and long-haul routes - was shut temporarily on Monday evening as specialist crews from the brigade were deployed to carry out an assessment.

The fire brigade said that around 20 people had been assessed on scene by paramedics. The nature of the incident has not been disclosed.

Unverified video clips shared online showed dozens of passengers waiting outside the terminal. The departures section on Heathrow's website showed flights continuing to take off.

The entire airport was shut for nearly a day in March when a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation knocked out its power, disrupting flight schedules around the world and stranding thousands of passengers.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'Brien)

Key Takeaways

  • Heathrow Terminal 4 was evacuated due to a hazardous materials incident.
  • The terminal has now reopened after being declared safe.
  • Emergency services responded promptly to the situation.
  • Around 20 people were assessed by paramedics on site.
  • Previous disruptions at Heathrow include a major power outage in March.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the evacuation of Heathrow's Terminal 4?
The evacuation was due to a possible hazardous materials incident, prompting emergency services to respond.
How did Heathrow Airport communicate about the incident?
Heathrow Airport apologized for the disruption on social media, stating they were doing everything possible to ensure flights departed as planned.
What was the response from the London Fire Brigade?
The London Fire Brigade deployed specialist crews to assess the situation and later stood down their response after assessing around 20 people on scene.
Were flights affected during the incident?
Despite the evacuation, the departures section on Heathrow's website indicated that flights continued to take off.
Has Heathrow Airport experienced similar incidents before?
Yes, the entire airport was shut down for nearly a day in March due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, which caused significant disruptions.

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