Claire Reid
Shocking footage shows the moment a huge fireball tore through the carpark at Luton Airport.
The fire tore through Terminal Car Park 2, injuring five people and damaging up to 1,500 cars.
Videos on social media show the enormous flames and billowing smoke ripping through the newly built car park.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident at 9.38pm yesterday (Tuesday 10 October), with 15 fire appliances and over 100 firefighters dispatched to bring the blaze under control.
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Four firefighters and one member of airport staff were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it’s believed the fire started with a diesel-powered vehicle ‘and then that fire has quickly and rapidly spread’.
Following the incident, Luton Airport announced it was suspending all flights until 3pm today (11 October).
Luton Airport issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying: "Our priority remains supporting the emergency services and the safety of our passengers and staff.
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"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."
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service also issued the following update this morning: "Crews have worked extremely hard throughout the night and into the early morning to control and extinguish the fire.
"Firefighting operations are monitoring the smoldering remains and will continue throughout the day.
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"Currently four crews and an aerial appliance remain at the scene, and crews are working in conjunction with the airport fire service."
It also gave advice to those planning to travel today: "All flights are suspended until 3pm. If you have a flight leaving before 3pm, please do not travel to the airport. Please avoid the area owing to severe traffic delays."
Tens of thousands of passengers are thought to be impacted by the disruption.
According to an analysis of flight data websites by PA, at least 150 flights due to take off or land at the Bedfordshire airport have been cancelled since the fire started.
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A further 27 arrivals were diverted to airports as far away as Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester, while many other flights were delayed.
The figures suggest more than 30,000 passengers have suffered disruption to their journeys.