Wildfire closes Heathrow Airport runway causing flight delays and cancellations

Wildfire closes Heathrow Airport runway causing flight delays and cancellations Noora Mykkanen | Senior Live News reporter Published August 6, 2026 8:05pm Updated August 6, 2026 8:57pm Flights, including British Airways, have been delayed and cancelled at Heathrow this evening after a wildfire near one of its runways (Picture: Bloomberg/Getty Images) A wildfire near Heathrow Airport closed one of its runways during the height of the summer holiday travel. One runway was closed and flights were affected at the UK’s busiest airport today after a grass fire. The fire, believed to have been within the safety perimeter, grounded some flights and caused delays and cancellations. Firefighters were alerted shortly after 5.30pm, and found the flames burning through around one hectare of grassland.