Massive London Luton Airport Fire Destroys Nearly 1,500 Vehicles at Car Park, Unlikely to be Salvageable

(Photo : HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Burned out cars are pictured in a charred section of car park, following a fire at London's Luton Airport on October 11, 2023. London's Luton Airport has suspended all flights until Wednesday afternoon and asked passengers not to travel there after a "significant fire" caused the partial collapse of a parking structure.

Luton Airport announced that it is improbable that any vehicles will be recoverable following a massive fire that resulted in the collapse of a car park.

On Tuesday, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report regarding a blaze occurring on level three of the airport's terminal car park.

Luton Airport's Car Park Fire Fallout

With thousands of passengers affected, Luton Airport has faced an immense challenge in managing the repercussions of a significant car park fire. Per The Guardian, the incident left travelers stranded and anxious about the status of their vehicles.

Despite the airport's efforts to address the situation, many passengers felt left in the cold as they awaited information and assistance. The chaos after the fire led to a surge in customer queries. As reported by Sky News, Luton Airport released a holding statement, stating, "Since Tuesday night's incident, together with Apcoa Parking, we have responded to almost 16,500 customer queries."

However, addressing such a substantial volume of questions naturally took longer than anticipated. The airport, committed to providing more details, acknowledged that they didn't have all the answers. One of Luton Airport's biggest challenges in managing the influx of queries, questions, and complaints while dealing with the fire's aftermath.

The damage to the structure has rendered much of the car park area inaccessible, leaving many cars trapped inside. The information that passengers and vehicle owners need can only be provided once the site is deemed safe, which adds to the situation's complexity.

The fire had far-reaching consequences, affecting tens of thousands of travelers. More than 150 flights were canceled, and some arrivals were diverted to other airports, causing substantial travel disruptions.

While the incident resulted in many inconvenienced passengers, the good news is that only minor injuries were reported, with no serious harm caused. Though Luton Airport has resumed normal flight operations, parking remains extremely limited, and passengers are advised to make alternative arrangements until further notice.

One of the most concerning aspects of the car park fire is the fate of the 1,405 vehicles inside the facility, according toThe Independent.

Luton Airport's Car Park Fire Sparks Vehicle Recovery Dilemma

It has been revealed that these vehicles are likely to be destroyed when the compromised structure is demolished. This revelation came five days after the blaze, which led to the airport's 18-hour closure, impacting up to 40,000 passengers and causing the cancellation of 235 flights.

A spokesperson for Luton Airport said it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable. Although the situation assessment is ongoing, the airport is actively collaborating with the Association of British Insurers and various insurance companies to evaluate the feasibility of safely recovering personal belongings from the affected vehicles.

The extreme temperatures during the fire are believed to have significantly weakened the multi-story car park structure, making any attempt to recover vehicles potentially dangerous. The airport is currently assessing the structural integrity of the car park and will undertake stabilizing work to make the area safe.

Only after this process is complete can the prospects for salvaging any vehicles and possessions be reassessed. The spokesperson added, "We recognize this has been an extremely distressing time for all concerned. We want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding while we work through the many complexities following this incident."

While Car Park 1, adjacent to the affected structure, is now open and operating normally, the capacity for vehicles to park in the central area of Luton Airport has been significantly reduced due to the fire, EuroWeekly News Reported.