Summary

  • Flights have resumed from Luton Airport after a large fire at a terminal car park on Tuesday evening

  • Tens of thousands of passengers are thought to be caught up in the disruption

  • Footage has emerged of a burning car, which could have started the massive car park fire

  • Terminal Car Park 2 suffered a "significant structural collapse" following the blaze, the fire service says

  • Up to 1,500 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time

  • Fire service says the blaze appears to have been accidental

Live Reporting

Writer: Rachael McMenemy. Edited by Richard Haugh

  1. EasyJet says about 35 return flights affected

    About 35 return flights operated by EasyJet have been suspended today, the airline says.

    In a statement, EasyJet said: “Due to the ongoing closure of Luton Airport our flights from Luton are currently unable to operate as planned.

    "We are doing all possible to minimise the impact on our customers, providing those on cancelled flights with options to rebook or receive a refund, as well as providing hotel accommodation and meals where required."

    Passengers on affected flights are being told to check the status of their flight using the airline's flight tracker.

    "The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is EasyJet’s highest priority and we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused," the airline added.

  2. 'No sprinklers in the car park'

    Andy HopkinsonLouise Parry/BBC

    Asked if there were sprinklers in the car park, fire chief Andy Hopkinson says "not that I'm aware of".

    He says the fire service would recommend to the airport that sprinklers are fitted in any redevelopment of the car park.

    He also tells gathered reporters that the car park being opened from the side would have allowed the fire to spread "horizontally" before it went up through the building.

  3. 'No members of the public harmed'

    Fire chief Andy Hopkinson is asked about the number of people who would have been in the building at the time of the fire.

    He says he does not have that "number to hand", but there would have been people coming and going to their cars.

    He notes again that thanks to the efforts of the fire service and firefighters from the airport no members of the public were harmed.

  4. Fire 'accidental' - chief fire officer
    Breaking

    Andy Hopkinson, chief fire officer at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, is speaking to members of the press at the airport.

    He says the fire service has "no intelligence than to suggest it was anything other than an accidental fire".

    He said it would have started in a vehicle that arrived at about the time the fire started, shortly before 21:00 BST.

  5. 'Things seem to have quickly escalated'

    BBC News freelance reporter Chris Penhall was on a flight from Faro to Luton, which was due to land at about 23:00 BST on Tuesday but had to be diverted to Gatwick.

    She said: "The captain announced there had been a fire at Luton and there could be a delay but nobody knew the scale at that point.

    "Things seem to have quickly escalated and we were soon told the decision had been made to divert to Gatwick.

    "The initial advice was for passengers to arrange their own onward transport to Luton Airport until it became apparent that nobody would be able to get there."

  6. 'Structural collapse' of car park

    Flames and smoke billow from the car park as passengers getting off a bus look on@Soriyn23/PA Media

    This photo gives a wider view of the fire.

    Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service says the blaze caused a "significant structural collapse" of the car park.

  7. How did the fire start?

    Limited details have been released so far about the cause of the fire, which Luton Airport described as being a "car fire that has spread".

    The fire service was called to reports of a blaze on level three of the airport's terminal two car park at 20:47 BST on Tuesday.

    The fire was "rapidly escalating" and a major incident was declared at 21:38.

    Up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park and subsequently damaged, the fire service said.

    A full investigation into the fire will take place, the fire service said.

    Flames bursting out of an upper level of a car park.Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service/PA Media

    Flames were seen bursting out of the sides of the car park which had up to 1,200 vehicles inside

  8. 'Loud explosions'

    Russell Taylor, 41, an account director from Kinross in Scotland, saw the flames after flying in to Luton Airport from Edinburgh.

    He told the PA news agency: "There were a couple of fire engines with a car ablaze on the upper floor of the car park at just after 9pm.

    "A few minutes later most of the upper floor was alight, car alarms were going off with loud explosions from cars going up in flames.

    "The speed in which the fire took hold was incredible."

  9. Firefighters and staff taken to hospital

    Four firefighters and a member of airport staff were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, the East of England Ambulance Service said.

    No serious injuries have been reported.

    One other person was treated and discharged at the scene.

  10. More than 100 firefighters tackle blaze

    More than 100 firefighters, 15 fire engines and three aerial appliances have been at the airport battling the fire.

    Crews from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and London Fire Brigade all helped, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

    A crane, ambulance and multiple fire crews are outside a car park. Water from an appliance out of shot is spraying water.Richard Knights/BBC

    Fire crews have been battling the blaze overnight

    Water being sprayed towards the ca park which is on fire.Richard Knights/BBC

    A fire broke out in the car park at about 20:47 BST on Tuesday

    A police car blocks the road heading towards the terminals at Luton Airport.Richard Knights/BBC

    Access to the airport is restricted with emergency services cutting off access

  11. Video shows car park blaze

    Watch: Flames engulf car park at Luton Airport

  12. Fire crews to stay on scene 'for a number of hours'

    Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service says it will be at the scene "for a number of hours".

    Crews are still working to dampen down the fire.

  13. Flights suspended until 15:00 BST

    Luton Airport has announced all flights will be suspended until 15:00 BST.

    All passengers are being told not to travel to the airport as access is "severely restricted".

    If you are affected, the airport says to get in touch with your airline.

  14. Major incident declared

    Here's what we know so far:

    • At 20:47 BST fire crews were called to a car fire on the third level of the terminal two multi-storey car park
    • Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue declared it a major incident at 21:38 and are still at the scene
    • Flights to and from the airport have been suspended until 15:00 BST

  15. Car park partially collapses and flights suspended

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage following a huge blaze in a multi-storey car park at Luton Airport.

    Fire crews are still on scene and all flights are suspended.

    Stay with us as we continue to bring you the latest developments.