It seems that even the Brits are not immune to herding passengers into travel chaos, much like the inevitable stampede at the grocery store when snow is in the forecast. London Heathrow, typically a bastion of order, has found itself plunged into pandemonium due to an explosive mishap. This is no small kerfuffle; it’s an outright disaster for the countless travelers who now find themselves grounded because one of the world’s busiest airports has been taken down by a rogue electrical substation begging for attention.

In a scene straight out of a slapstick movie, the power outage was triggered by a late-night explosion at the substation just a couple of miles from Heathrow. Witnesses describe the sound as something akin to fireworks gone wrong, followed by clouds of smoke that must have made them wonder if the Great Fire of London had returned for an encore. Unfortunately, this isn’t so easily extinguished, and as much as 10% of the fire is still playfully burning away, making even the firefighters scratch their helmets in disbelief.

Now, if Heathrow were just any airport, the impact might have been contained. However, this is the fifth largest, busiest airport worldwide, and Europe’s crown jewel of air travel chaos. Canceling 1,300 flights might seem like just another day at a place this size, but it’s an utter catastrophe for about 291,000 beleaguered passengers who had presumably just wanted to go about their business—or perhaps escape to someplace where electrical substations behave themselves.

Adding to the confusion, flights are being redirected to various European countries like France, Germany, and even as far as Iceland. Perhaps those passengers can cool off there, both emotionally and literally. Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport has issued stern warnings, pleading with people to stay away as if the airport had suddenly transformed into a zombie apocalypse zone. Even the city’s subway system is playing its part, broadcasting warnings loud and clear: Don’t even think about heading to the airport unless you crave disappointment.

While Londoners might be used to a bit of rain and fog throwing off their schedules, this incident is bound to test even British patience. The ripple effect on global travel is sure to extend far beyond Heathrow’s grounds, as the staff there scramble to sort this mess out. So next time you’re stuck in traffic and grumble about it, just remember—it could always be worse. You could be stranded indefinitely at Heathrow, all because a substation decided it needed to go out with a bang.