gg2
Heathrow roads reopen after water main flood
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Heathrow reopened roads after a burst water main flooded Terminals 2 and 3. Passengers faced travel disruption during the busy school holiday period.
Background
A burst water main caused flooding in the central terminal area of Heathrow Airport, blocking road access to Terminals 2 and 3. The airport advised passengers to use rail and tube services instead. The incident occurred during the school holidays, one of the airport's busiest periods, and followed a recent rail disruption caused by a water leak.
How it unfolded
- Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00Heathrow warns of flooding restricting road access to Terminals 2 and 3, advising passengers to use public transport.
- Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:00Burst water main confirmed as cause; passengers told not to travel by road to affected terminals.
- Sat, 15 Aug 2026 12:00Roads leading to Heathrow reopen after repairs, but disruption continues to affect travelers.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Heathrow spokesperson: 'Our teams are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The leak has been isolated and repairs are ongoing.'
- Caution
- Which? Travel editor Rory Boland advised passengers to check airline policies, contact airlines about missed flights, and review travel insurance for coverage.
Still unverified
The exact cause of the burst water main and the full extent of damage have not been officially confirmed.