Video footage has shown the moment a huge fireball exploded and engulfed a Luton Airport car park, with pictures revealing the extent of damage caused to vehicles.
The images show burnt-out cars buried among debris following the partial collapse of the car park during last night’s blaze – as flights were suspended until 3pm on Wednesday.
As many as 1,500 vehicles are thought to be have been in the car park at the time of the fire – with up to 1,200 believed to be damaged.
A temporary ramp is being installed to enable undamaged vehicles to be removed.
The fire service said one half of the car park was “fully involved in the fire” and that the building has suffered a “significant structural collapse”.
Image: Fire damage at a multi-storey car park at Luton AirportBedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident at 9.38pm on Tuesday and, at its peak, had 15 fire engines, three specialist aerial appliances and more than 100 firefighters at the scene.
The East England Ambulance Service said four firefighters and one member of airport staff were taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital following the fire.
Another patient was discharged at the scene.
All flights have been suspended until at least 3pm on Wednesday.
AdvertisementAround 25,000 airline passengers are thought to have been impacted by cancellations and delays, according to analysis by the Press Association (PA).
Image: A temporary ramp is being installed to enable undamaged vehicles to be removed.Read more from Sky News:Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake plan sports barHolly Willoughby quits ITV’s This Morning
Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters faced a “severe and rapidly spreading fire” on arrival, and the blaze “ultimately spread to multiple floors”.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, though Mr Hopkinson said there was “no intelligence to suggest it’s anything other than an accidental fire that started in one of the vehicles”.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
He added the fire likely started in a diesel car, before spreading to nearby vehicles.
“We don’t believe it was an electric vehicle,” he said.
Image: Pic: @Soriyn23 Image: Firefighters at the scene of the fireHe urged those due to travel on Wednesday to check with their airline for updates.
“If you are scheduled to have a flight before 3pm, then the advice is not to travel to the airport,” added Mr Hopkinson.
Overnight, firefighters were attempting to put out the enormous blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings and vehicles on the airport runway.
0:52 Blaze engulfs Luton Airport car parkIn an update at 8.45am on Wednesday, the fire service said it had “controlled and extinguished” the blaze, but urged people to avoid the area due to “severe traffic delays”.
“Four crews and an aerial appliance remain at the scene,” the service said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“All flights are suspended until 3pm. If you have a flight leaving before 3pm, please do not travel. Please avoid the area owing to severe traffic delays.”
The fire service stood down its major incident on Wednesday morning.
0:53 Luton: ‘You could hear cars exploding’In a statement on X, Luton Airport said: “Emergency services remain on the scene following last night’s fire in Terminal Car Park 2.
“Our priority remains supporting the emergency services and the safety of our passengers and staff. Therefore, we have now taken the decision to suspend all flights until 3pm on Wednesday 11th October.
“Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time, as access remains severely restricted.
“For queries relating to a parked vehicle or future booking please contact [email protected].
“Passengers should contact their airline for information regarding their flight.”
Image: The fire broke out at Terminal Car Park 2 at Luton AirportFlames could be seen tearing through cars parked on an upper floor of Terminal Car Park 2 in videos posted on social media on Tuesday night.
One witness told Sky News: “You could hear cars exploding.”