Daily Times

Luton Airport experienced a major disruption as a fire erupted on the top floor of a multi-story car park, leading to the suspension of all flights.

Dramatic videos shared by witnesses on social media showcased towering flames on the car park’s top floor, with approximately 80% of the area engulfed in fire. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with cars exploding as the fire rapidly spread through multiple levels. Concerned onlookers watched in horror as plumes of smoke billowed into the sky.

The incident unfolded at Terminal Car Park 2 in Bedfordshire, leading to an immediate response from emergency services, including the Bedfordshire Fire Service. Despite the alarming visuals, there were no reported casualties.

Robson O’Reardon, a user on social media platform X, shared a clip around 11:15pm that appeared to show part of the car park collapsing amidst the flames, heightening the sense of urgency and danger. Molly Bullard, another eyewitness, labeled the situation as “scary scenes,” explaining that the fire rapidly expanded through the car park levels, resulting in car explosions.

Emergency services remained on the scene, with more resources, including the Hazardous Area Response Team, en route to manage the situation.

In response to the fire, London Luton Airport swiftly suspended all flights and restricted access to the airport. Passengers were advised to stay updated on the situation through official channels. Firefighters worked diligently to control the blaze while addressing the potential hazards. The speed at which the fire tore through the car park was described as “incredible” by Russell Taylor, an eyewitness who had just arrived at Luton Airport from Edinburgh. He witnessed fire engines arriving at the scene, with cars ablaze on the upper floor and the sound of car alarms and explosions filling the air.

All flights at Luton Airport have been suspended until the afternoon after a huge fire ripped through a terminal car park on Tuesday evening.

Flights have been halted until 15:00 BST after the fire at the multi-storey caused the building to suffer a “significant structural collapse”.

About 1,500 vehicles may have been in the car park and subsequently damaged, Bedfordshire Fire Service said.

Four firefighters and an airport staff member were taken to hospital.

They had been suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke. Another patient was treated at the scene, although no serious injuries have been reported.

Vehicle alarms and loud explosions were heard, with one witness describing the speed at which the blaze had torn through the upper floor of the car park as “incredible”. The airport said its priority was to support emergency services and the safety of passengers and staff, which was why flights had been suspended.

Travel expert Simon Calder believed between 40,000 and 50,000 people will have their travel plans affected, while the airport said it hoped to “get the airport operational as soon as possible”.

Flames could be seen from the top level of the multi-storey car park

The fire, believed to have been accidental, would have started in a vehicle that arrived at about the time the fire started, shortly before 21:00 BST, the fire service said. A passenger who was on board a plane that was due to take off as the fire broke out said: “We were all just told to get off the flight, that there was an incident and then we were left in the airport with no proper explanation.”

Two hours later, they were told there was a major incident and that they would need to leave the airport.

“It was all a little bit confusing, because I don’t think the staff knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing.” Footage shared online shows huge flames and billowing smoke from the top level of the car park after the fire broke out shortly before 21:00.

Bedfordshire Police have asked people not to travel to the area.

One witness said he saw an explosion on the roof of the car park followed by a “flame that shot across the car park like a flame thrower”. After that, he saw cars exploding “every few minutes”.

The airport said a car fire had spread but did not give further details. Hundreds of people were stranded in Luton with no way of getting home, with many saying their cars were in the car park.

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The fire was “rapidly developing and escalating” said Andy Hopkinson from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Andy Hopkinson, Bedfordshire’s chief fire officer, said the service had “no intelligence than to suggest it was anything other than an accidental fire”.

He said it was thought the fire started with a diesel car, and then spread through the car park. He praised his team and confirmed no members of the public were harmed. The car park, which can hold 1,900 vehicles, did not appear to have sprinklers, according to Mr Hopkinson.

He told reporters that the car park’s open sides would have allowed the fire to spread “horizontally” before it went up through the building.

Firefighters were staying on site to monitor the “smouldering remains”.

Emergency services have been on the scene since Tuesday night

There is a heavy police presence with many officers trying their best to direct people away from the scene. For some stranded passengers, English is not their first language. Many were struggling with their luggage to Luton Airport’s railway station as they tried to catch a train, with others trying to get coaches to other airports in order to catch alternative flights. All the hotels at Luton Airport were fully booked and many passengers said it felt like airlines had simply dumped them. The car park, pictured here before the fire, is believed to have capacity for 1,900 vehicles

Firefighters from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and London tackled the blaze London Luton is the UK’s fifth largest airport after Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted, carrying more than 13 million passengers in 2022.

The ambulance service said a critical incident had been stood down but it would “remain on scene to support fire and rescue colleagues”. Bedfordshire Fire Service said 15 engines had been sent to the airport. A number of police and fire crews attended the fire Earlier, the ambulance service said a member of the public and six firefighters had suffered smoke inhalation. Another passenger said “some of us were very frightened because we’d travelled by ourselves” and “didn’t have anywhere to go” after being told to leave the airport.