Heathrow Chaos Echoes Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull Eruption: Could UK Be the Next Global Halt?

The global chaos caused by a 24-hour blackout at Heathrow Airport has revived memories of the 2010 disruption when a similar crisis paralyzed air travel across Europe due to Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption. It was 15 years ago when an explosive volcanic eruption in Iceland sent ash clouds several kilometers into the atmosphere, halting flights for days—a situation reminiscent of today’s events at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport. Although the causes of the travel disruptions are different, the outcomes are eerily similar: flight cancellations, grounded planes, and worldwide chaos. The pollution from gases and ash clouds over Iceland back then disrupted air traffic because of fears that volcanic ash could severely damage jet engines. This unprecedented situation in Europe made Iceland temporarily famous as ‘the country that stopped the world.’ Similarly, since Friday (March 21, 2025), a massive fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport left much of the international hub without power, causing hundreds of flights to be diverted or turned back. Investigations into the fire have ruled out sabotage but emphasize counter-terrorism expertise to swiftly rule out foul play. Described as a precautionary measure, this investigation underscores the seriousness of the event. Back in April 2010, the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland spread panic not only locally but across Western Europe’s airspace. Ash particles entered the atmosphere grounding planes for weeks due to concerns about engine failure mid-flight. Extensive disruptions followed in transatlantic flights between Europe and North America, with over 100,000 flights canceled within eight days and more than 10 million travelers stranded at airports. The damages exceeded those caused after the 9/11 attacks, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The eruption occurred under conditions that contributed to its massive scale, with glacial ice atop the volcano freezing the lava and creating microscopic particles ejected into the air, spreading across Europe.