Major Fire at Luton Airport’s Car Park Halts Operations
London’s Luton Airport came to a standstill after a substantial fire erupted in its Terminal 2 parking facility. The airport administration announced on Wednesday that all flights would be suspended at least until 3 p.m. local time and cautioned passengers against traveling to the location.
The aftermath of the previous night’s fire was evident, as noted by the airport in a statement shared on X/Twitter. While the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the situation was no longer classified as a “major incident”, the response remains active. They stated, “Firefighters have successfully managed and put out the fire at Luton Airport,” maintaining a presence with four crews and an aerial apparatus on-site.
Giving more context, Chief Fire Officer Andy Hopkinson estimated around 1,500 vehicles were present in the parking facility when the blaze ignited Tuesday evening. He emphasized that initial findings point towards the fire’s accidental nature, most likely originating from a single vehicle and then quickly spreading across the parking area. Four fire personnel and an airport staff member required treatment for mild smoke inhalation, though they have been released from medical care. Thankfully, no civilians suffered injuries.
An alarming revelation from Luton Airport highlighted a “partial structural collapse” due to the fire. Ensuring safety remains their utmost priority, as per a report by CNN.
As operations remain paused, Luton Airport is directing passengers to liaise with their respective airlines for flight updates, and currently, general access to the airport is highly restricted.
Located approximately 55 kilometers northwest of London in Bedfordshire, Luton Airport is a central hub for several prominent low-cost carriers, encompassing easyJet, Wizz Air, and Ryanair.