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‘SLEEPING ON THE JOB’: WHY THE CEO CONTINUES TO DOMINATE HEATHROW CRISIS COVERAGE

‘SLEEPING ON THE JOB’: WHY THE CEO CONTINUES TO DOMINATE HEATHROW CRISIS COVERAGE

The Media Landscape
• 7 min
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In this episode of The Media Landscape, we delve into the intriguing story behind Heathrow CEO Thomas Waldbuy's unavailability during a major crisis. A fire at a nearby electrical substation led to a power outage, causing chaos for nearly 300,000 passengers. The incident report reveals that Waldbuy's phone had gone silent, leaving him unaware and asleep as the airport closed for 16 hours. While the decision to suspend operations was deemed correct, the optics of a sleeping CEO dominated media coverage, overshadowing the airport's efficient response. I explore the importance of transparent communication during crises and the lessons other organisations can learn from this incident. Tune in for an insightful discussion on crisis media management and the implications of this high-profile event.