Luton Airport fire – live: Flights suspended for most of day as 40,000 passengers affected

Airport suspends all flights until 3pm on Wednesday as up to 1,200 cars damaged in fire

Simon Calder provides update on Luton airport fire as travellers hospitalised

Up to 40,000 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations after a large fire broke out at one of London’s Luton Airport’s car parks.

The airport has now suspended all flights until at least 3pm, as firefighters remain at the site of blaze that broke out just before 9pm.

The newly-built car park building at the airport’s Terminal 2 has partially collapsed, the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said. It was not known if any passengers were trapped on the tarmac, inside the airport or in the Terminal 2 car park.

The fire service said it was called to the incident just before 9pm and over 10 fire engines were at the scene. It added that 80 per cent of one of the car park’s third floors was impacted by the blaze.

Up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged.

In a statement posted to X on Wednesday morning the airport added: “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time as access remains severely restricted.”

Key Points

• All flight services at Luton Airport cancelled till 3pm today
• 40,000 passengers affected at Luton
• Five injured as massive fire engulfs Luton Airport
• How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

[11 October 2023 05:59 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Passengers told to ‘get off the flight’ amid fire at Luton Airport

Passengers on board a plane that was due to take off were asked to “get off the flight” after a massive fire erupted at the Luton Airport last night just before 9pm.

“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,” an unnamed passenger was quoted by the BBC as saying.

The passengers were informed two hours later that there had been a major incident and 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.”

Another passenger told the broadcaster that “some of us were very frightened because we’d travelled by ourselves” and “didn’t have anywhere to go”.

[11 October 2023 06:09 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

In pics | Emergency services battle blaze at Luton Airport

Firemen battle a fire at London's Luton Airport which caused a partial collapse of a parking structure (AFP via Getty Images)

Firemen battle a fire at London's Luton Airport which caused a partial collapse of a parking structure (AFP via Getty Images)

Flames are seen as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport (REUTERS)

[11 October 2023 06:16 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

Flights have been suspended at London’s Luton Airport after “a significant fire” broke out at a terminal car park, and passengers have been told to not go to the airport at this time.

Twenty-three incoming flights were diverted on Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Passengers ended up at airports as far away as Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol late at night.

Ten outbound departures were cancelled on Tuesday evening, including flights that had already been boarded.

About 30,000 passengers have been impacted, adding in last night’s cancelled and diverted flights.

Simon Calder has more.

[11 October 2023 06:26 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Bus service at Luton Airport suspended due to fire

Buses were unable to serve the Luton Airport terminal following a fire at the multi-storey car park at the airport, Arriva Beds and Bucks said.

“All services are unable to serve the airport terminal,” it said in a social media post this morning.

“Services A and 100 are operating up to Vauxhall, terminating at Luton bound stop on Kimpton Rd.”

[11 October 2023 06:42 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

‘Significant structural collapse’ of car park at Luton Airport

The multi-storey car park at Terminal 2 of Luton Airport suffered significant structural collapse following a massive fire that erupted just before 9pm last night.

Upto 1,200 vehicles were in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged, according to the fire services.

“One half of the structure is fully involved in fire and the building has suffered a significant structural collapse,” a spokesperson for Bedfordshire Fire Service told PA news agency.

“Fire crews are working to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings and vehicles on air side of the airport.”

[11 October 2023 06:46 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after all flights cancelled

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after flights cancelled until Wednesday noon following fire at the car park (Simon Calder)

[11 October 2023 06:49 · Simon Calder]

How important is Luton airport?

Luton airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the UK, normally with several hundred flights a day across Europe – typically carrying 40,000 passengers daily.

It is the location for easyJet’s headquarters, and a base for many of the flights on Britain’s biggest budget airline.

Luton is the main UK base for Wizz Air, which has many flights to and from destinations mainly in eastern Europe.

Ryanair has a substantial operation, with dozens of flights to destinations in Ireland and Continental Europe.

[11 October 2023 07:06 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Flights suspended at Luton Airport after fire engulfs car park

Flights have been suspended at Luton Airport because of a large fire that has engulfed one of its car parks.

Looks like the whole car park has just fallen down through the flames!#LutonAirport pic.twitter.com/FHbG80rXKu

— Robson O'Reardon🎗 (@RobsonOReardon) October 10, 2023

Footage posted on social media showed flames and smoke tearing through cars parked at the airport terminal on Tuesday evening.

Vehicle alarms and loud explosions could be heard, with one witness saying the speed in which the blaze tore through the upper floor of the car park was “incredible”.

Joe Middleton reports.

[11 October 2023 07:15 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Watch | Fire engulfs Luton Airport car park as all flights suspended

[11 October 2023 07:22 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

All flights to and from Luton Airport cancelled till 3pm today

All flight services to and from Luton Airport have been cancelled till 3pm on Wednesday after a massive fire broke out in Terminal Cark Park 2 that resulted in the partial collapse of the structure.

“Emergency services remain on the scene following last night’s fire in Terminal Car Park 2,” the airport said in an update this morning.

It advised passengers to not travel to the airport at this time due to restricted access.

Update at 07:10 pic.twitter.com/WXCrmUcLih

— London Luton Airport (@LDNLutonAirport) October 11, 2023