Simon Calder gives replace on Luton airport fireplace as travellers hospitalised
As much as 40,000 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations after a big fireplace broke out at one in every of London’s Luton Airport’s automotive parks.
The airport has now suspended all flights till no less than 3pm, as firefighters stay on the web site of blaze that broke out simply earlier than 9pm.
The newly-built automotive park constructing on the airport’s Terminal 2 has partially collapsed, the Bedfordshire Fireplace and Rescue Service stated. It was not identified if any passengers had been trapped on the tarmac, contained in the airport or within the Terminal 2 automotive park.
The hearth service stated it was known as to the incident simply earlier than 9pm and over 10 fireplace engines had been on the scene. It added that 80 per cent of one of many automotive park’s third flooring was impacted by the blaze.
As much as 1,200 automobiles might have been within the automotive park on the time of the hearth and subsequently broken.
In a press release posted to X on Wednesday morning the airport added: “Passengers are suggested to not journey to the airport right now as entry stays severely restricted.”
40,000 passengers affected at Luton
The variety of passengers affected is considered round 40,000, Simon Calder reviews.
Luton Airport have suspended all flights till 3pm, the airport stated in a press release on X.
Emergency providers are nonetheless on the web site of the blaze, which started at 9pm final evening in newly constructed Terminal 2 automotive park.
It was not identified if any passengers had been trapped on the tarmac, contained in the airport or within the automotive park, however 1,200 automobiles are considered broken.
Athena Stavrou11 October 2023 08:36
Firefighters amongst 5 injured as fireplace engulfs Luton Airport
Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency providers battle a blaze that broke out at Luton Airport simply earlier than 9pm on Tuesday.
Footage posted on social media confirmed flames and smoke tearing by way of vehicles parked on the airport terminal.
Car alarms and loud explosions may very well be heard, with one witness saying the pace during which the blaze tore by way of the higher flooring of the automotive park was “unbelievable”.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:21
All fights cancelled until 12pm Wednesday
All flight providers have been briefly cancelled after a large fireplace broke out in Terminal Cark Park 2 that resulted within the partial collapse of the construction.
“All flights are suspended till 12pm on Wednesday,” the airport stated in an replace on social media X.
It suggested passengers to not journey to the airport right now on account of restricted entry.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:34
In pics | Emergency providers reply to a fireplace at Luton Airport
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:44
Fireplace providers nonetheless battling Luton Airport blaze
Firefighters are nonetheless battling to extinguish the blaze at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire Fireplace and Rescue Service has stated in an replace.
The hearth broke out on the newly-built automotive park constructing at Luton’s Terminal 2 simply earlier than 9pm on Tuesday.
No less than 10 fireplace engines and over 100 firefighters had been pressed into motion to carry the hearth underneath management, it stated.“We’re persevering with to guard surrounding airport infrastructure, automobiles and the Luton DART,” it stated in a press release.
Based on the authorities, about 1,200 automobiles might have been within the automotive park on the time of the hearth and subsequently broken.
Efforts are nonetheless ongoing to extinguish a severe fireplace at Luton Airport. We’re persevering with to guard surrounding airport infrastructure, automobiles and the Luton DART. For anybody whose journey plans could also be affected, please check with the recommendation being supplied by London Luton Airport. pic.twitter.com/tNFo4hvRdX
— Beds Fireplace and Rescue (@BedsFire) October 11, 2023
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:58
‘Automobiles going up in flames’: Witness shares what he noticed at Luton Airport
Russell Taylor, 41, an account director from Kinross in Scotland, noticed the flames after flying in to Luton Airport from Edinburgh.
“There have been a few fireplace engines with a automotive ablaze on the higher flooring of the automotive park at simply after 9pm,” he instructed PA information company.
“A couple of minutes later many of the higher flooring was alight, automotive alarms had been going off with loud explosions from vehicles going up in flames.
“The pace during which the hearth took maintain was unbelievable.”
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 05:12
Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fireplace have an effect on passengers?
The airport is saying: “Emergency providers proceed to reply to a big fireplace in Terminal Automotive Park 2, which has resulted in partial structural collapse.
“All flights are suspended till 12pm on Wednesday 11 October, please contact your airline for the most recent flight data.
“Passengers are suggested to not journey to the airport right now, as entry stays severely restricted.”
What’s the impact on flights?
Twenty-three incoming flights had been diverted on Tuesday evening and within the early hours of Wednesday morning. Passengers arrived as distant as Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol late at evening.
Ten outbound departures had been cancelled on Tuesday night, together with flights which had already been boarded.
On Wednesday morning, 85 planes are on account of depart by 12 midday when the airport might re-open. With the inbound cancellations, meaning a complete of 170 flights – with an estimated 27,000 passengers booked. Including in final evening’s cancelled and diverted flights and that’s about 30,000 passengers.
Even when the airport is ready to reopen at midday, extra travellers more likely to be affected on account of knock-on results from the closure.
What occurs to these folks?
Underneath European air passengers’ rights guidelines they’re entitled to various flights and resort stays as mandatory, however such is the size of this that it’s seemingly many individuals might want to attempt to discover various flights and declare again the money.
Presumably some folks will come again and discover their automotive has gone up in smoke?
Simon Calder11 October 2023 05:20
Motels round Luton Airport absolutely booked as passengers compelled to cancel tickets
Motels round Luton Airport had been absolutely booked as passengers had been compelled to cancel their tickets final minute following a large blaze on the automotive park.
“Received final three rooms in Ibis resort, we had been fortunate, there are such a lot of can’t get into any resorts. Employees at Luton very useful,” wrote a passenger on social media X.
Received introduced off flight after two hours on aircraft due to fireplace at Luton Airport, emergency providers working arduous. Received final three rooms in Ibis resort, we had been fortunate, there are such a lot of can’t get into any resorts. Employees at Luton very useful pic.twitter.com/7wUYfdwoXI
— CathybAFC 🇮🇪 (@Catblack04) October 10, 2023
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 05:39
Firefighters taken to hospital after fireplace at Luton Airport
Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency providers battle a blaze that broke out at Luton Airport simply earlier than 9pm on Tuesday.
5 folks have been admitted to Luton and Dunstable hospitals for smoke inhalation.
A sixth particular person was handled on the scene however didn’t require additional medical therapy.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 05:48