Aviation Security Expert Phillip Baum has claimed that "insider action" could have played a part in the electrical substation fire near Heathrow Airport, suggesting it may have been an "intentional attack".
Europe's busiest airport shut down its services after a huge blaze began at the electrical substation in Nestles Avenue, Hayes at around 11.30pm on Thursday night.
More than 1,300 flights were cancelled as a result of the fire, but eight have since been given clearance to leave Heathrow today.
Speaking to GB News, Editor at Aviation Security Phillip Baum suggested that the incident may have been caused by an internal factor, which could be "embarrassing" for the airport. Baum has also been stranded in Norway as a result of the fire, unable to return to London.
Discussing the incident, Baum told host Martin Daubney: "I was about to run an unruly airline passenger training course, ironically, when I heard the news that my flight this afternoon back to Heathrow had been cancelled.
"I immediately thought of two things - how could this possibly have happened at London Heathrow, where one would have thought all the backups would be there, would have kicked in automatically. And secondly, of course, what is the cause?"
Responding to reports that Russia may be involved in the blaze, Baum claimed that alongside potential Putin involvement, there may be involvement from "climate activist groups" or an "insider".
He explained: "One of the things that immediately sprang to mind, but it is indeed pure speculation, was could this have a link to Russian involvement, or could it indeed actually have a link to many of the climate crisis activist groups that are out there that could also target aviation and seek to disrupt it, without necessarily harming lives in the process?
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"It certainly disrupted our lives, that's what activists aim to do, sometimes for the best of reasons. And certainly there will be lessons learned, whatever the cause of this incident."
When pressed by Martin on what he believes could be the most likely cause of the blaze, Baum admitted: "My guess is that it would involve some kind of insider action, and I think that's what keeps airport security managers awake at night around the globe - it's not the external actors, it's the people that work within the organisation.
"Are there people that could have malicious intent, that are privy to the vulnerabilities of the systems that we operate, that know what would happen if something was shut down or something was ignited? They know what the knock on effect would be?"
Praising the investigative work of the Counter-Terrorism Police in trying to establish the cause of the blaze, Baum added that it is "completely understandable" that they are leading the inquiry, especially if there has been an "intentional attack" on the site.
Baum concluded: "As frustrating as it is, we need to wait to see the counter-terrorism police establish it. I think it is completely understandable that they are leading the inquiry. It's certainly what everybody behind the scenes will be worrying about, that this could be an intentional attack on an element of our critical national infrastructure.
"That is embarrassing for the state, embarrassing for Heathrow. And it would actually send shockwaves to the aviation industry, not only in the UK, but around the world."
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said "significant disruption is expected over the coming days".
Hillingdon Council has said that the fire is now "under control", but due to a "significant amount of smoke, a 200-metre cordon has been established", with around 150 people were evacuated.
They warned residents: "Please avoid the area wherever possible. Due to the significant amount of smoke, the London Fire Brigade is strongly advising local residents to keep their windows and doors closed."
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Europe's busiest airport shut down its services after a huge blaze began at the electrical substation in Nestles Avenue, Hayes at around 11.30pm on Thursday night.
More than 1,300 flights were cancelled as a result of the fire, but eight have since been given clearance to leave Heathrow today.
Speaking to GB News, Editor at Aviation Security Phillip Baum suggested that the incident may have been caused by an internal factor, which could be "embarrassing" for the airport. Baum has also been stranded in Norway as a result of the fire, unable to return to London.
Discussing the incident, Baum told host Martin Daubney: "I was about to run an unruly airline passenger training course, ironically, when I heard the news that my flight this afternoon back to Heathrow had been cancelled.
"I immediately thought of two things - how could this possibly have happened at London Heathrow, where one would have thought all the backups would be there, would have kicked in automatically. And secondly, of course, what is the cause?"
Responding to reports that Russia may be involved in the blaze, Baum claimed that alongside potential Putin involvement, there may be involvement from "climate activist groups" or an "insider".
He explained: "One of the things that immediately sprang to mind, but it is indeed pure speculation, was could this have a link to Russian involvement, or could it indeed actually have a link to many of the climate crisis activist groups that are out there that could also target aviation and seek to disrupt it, without necessarily harming lives in the process?
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"It certainly disrupted our lives, that's what activists aim to do, sometimes for the best of reasons. And certainly there will be lessons learned, whatever the cause of this incident."
When pressed by Martin on what he believes could be the most likely cause of the blaze, Baum admitted: "My guess is that it would involve some kind of insider action, and I think that's what keeps airport security managers awake at night around the globe - it's not the external actors, it's the people that work within the organisation.
"Are there people that could have malicious intent, that are privy to the vulnerabilities of the systems that we operate, that know what would happen if something was shut down or something was ignited? They know what the knock on effect would be?"
Praising the investigative work of the Counter-Terrorism Police in trying to establish the cause of the blaze, Baum added that it is "completely understandable" that they are leading the inquiry, especially if there has been an "intentional attack" on the site.
Baum concluded: "As frustrating as it is, we need to wait to see the counter-terrorism police establish it. I think it is completely understandable that they are leading the inquiry. It's certainly what everybody behind the scenes will be worrying about, that this could be an intentional attack on an element of our critical national infrastructure.
"That is embarrassing for the state, embarrassing for Heathrow. And it would actually send shockwaves to the aviation industry, not only in the UK, but around the world."
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said "significant disruption is expected over the coming days".
Hillingdon Council has said that the fire is now "under control", but due to a "significant amount of smoke, a 200-metre cordon has been established", with around 150 people were evacuated.
They warned residents: "Please avoid the area wherever possible. Due to the significant amount of smoke, the London Fire Brigade is strongly advising local residents to keep their windows and doors closed."
Find Out More...