A police helicopter was the only vehicle visible in the sky above Heathrow airport on Friday, as the regular drone of flights went silent after a fire at a power station shuttered Europe's busiest airport.

On the ground, dozens of confused, stranded passengers stood around with their suitcases outside airport hotels. Many who AFP spoke to complained about the cost of shifting their bookings and a lack of information from Heathrow or airlines.

For veteran athlete Kevin Dillon, 70, Heathrow's day-long closure meant he would miss the opening ceremony of the World Masters Athletics Championships in Florida.

The runner, sporting a Great Britain tracksuit, said he had come from Manchester to catch his flight so he could compete.

The authorities are facing questions over how the fire at the electricity substation left such a crucial piece of national infrastructure closed for the day.

"I'm just surprised they didn't have a backup system," Dillon said.

Jake Johnston, from Los Angeles, was set to travel back to the United........

© International Business Times