Flooding at Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning, 15 August 2026, has been caused by a burst water main beneath Inner Ring Road West, flooding the central terminal area connecting Terminals 2 and 3.
This flooding has forced road closures that restrict access to Terminals 2 and 3. Passengers are asked not to travel by road to these terminals today due to ongoing closures.
Travel alternatives for passengers to Terminals 2 and 3
Heathrow Airport strongly advises passengers to use the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line, and Piccadilly Line rail services to reach Terminals 2 and 3. Those traveling by car should use Park and Ride at Terminals 4 or 5,
then take the free rail service to Terminals 2 and 3. Alternatively, passengers can change at local rail stations to use these connections.
Heathrow Airport response and impact on flights
A Heathrow Airport spokesman stated: “Flooding in the central terminal area has resulted in on-going road closures restricting access to Terminals 2 and 3. Passengers travelling to or from either of these terminals today must not travel by road. Passengers are strongly advised to use Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line and Piccadilly Line rail services where possible. Any passengers that must travel by car must use Park and Ride, head to Terminals 4 or 5 and take free
rail services from there, or change at local rail stations. Please allow extra time for your journey. Our teams are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, we apologise for any disruption caused.”
There is no flooding inside the terminal buildings themselves, and flights have not been disrupted despite the road closures.
Timing of disruption during peak travel period
The disruption occurs during the school summer holidays when hundreds of thousands of passengers pass through Heathrow Airport at peak times, increasing the impact of the restricted road access caused by the burst water main beneath Inner Ring Road West.
