Simon Calder offers replace on Luton airport hearth as travellers hospitalised
As much as 40,000 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations after a big hearth broke out at certainly one of London’s Luton Airport’s automobile parks.
The airport has now suspended all flights till at the least 3pm, as firefighters stay on the website of blaze that broke out simply earlier than 9pm.
The newly-built automobile park constructing on the airport’s Terminal 2 has partially collapsed, the Bedfordshire Hearth and Rescue Service stated. It was not recognized if any passengers had been trapped on the tarmac, contained in the airport or within the Terminal 2 automobile park.
The hearth service stated it was referred to as to the incident simply earlier than 9pm and over 10 hearth engines had been on the scene. It added that 80 per cent of one of many automobile park’s third flooring was impacted by the blaze.
As much as 1,200 automobiles might have been within the automobile park on the time of the fireplace and subsequently broken.
In an announcement posted to X on Wednesday morning the airport added: “Passengers are suggested to not journey to the airport presently as entry stays severely restricted.”
40,000 passengers affected at Luton
The variety of passengers affected is considered round 40,000, Simon Calder stories.
Luton Airport have suspended all flights till 3pm, the airport stated in an announcement on X.
Emergency companies are nonetheless on the website of the blaze, which started at 9pm final night time in newly constructed Terminal 2 automobile park.
It was not recognized if any passengers had been trapped on the tarmac, contained in the airport or within the automobile park, however 1,200 automobiles are considered broken.
Athena Stavrou11 October 2023 08:36
Firefighters amongst 5 injured as hearth engulfs Luton Airport
Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency companies 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 automobiles parked on the airport terminal.
Automobile alarms and loud explosions might be heard, with one witness saying the pace by which the blaze tore by the higher flooring of the automobile park was “unimaginable”.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:21
All fights cancelled until 12pm Wednesday
All flight companies have been quickly cancelled after a large hearth 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 presently attributable to restricted entry.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:34
In pics | Emergency companies reply to a fireplace at Luton Airport
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:44
Hearth companies nonetheless battling Luton Airport blaze
Firefighters are nonetheless battling to extinguish the blaze at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire Hearth and Rescue Service has stated in an replace.
The hearth broke out on the newly-built automobile park constructing at Luton’s Terminal 2 simply earlier than 9pm on Tuesday.
No less than 10 hearth engines and over 100 firefighters had been pressed into motion to carry the fireplace beneath management, it stated.“We’re persevering with to guard surrounding airport infrastructure, automobiles and the Luton DART,” it stated in an announcement.
In keeping with the authorities, about 1,200 automobiles might have been within the automobile park on the time of the fireplace and subsequently broken.
Efforts are nonetheless ongoing to extinguish a critical hearth 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 Hearth and Rescue (@BedsFire) October 11, 2023
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 04:58
‘Vehicles 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 hearth engines with a automobile ablaze on the higher flooring of the automobile park at simply after 9pm,” he informed PA information company.
“A couple of minutes later a lot of the higher flooring was alight, automobile alarms had been going off with loud explosions from automobiles going up in flames.
“The pace by which the fireplace took maintain was unimaginable.”
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 05:12
Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport hearth have an effect on passengers?
The airport is saying: “Emergency companies proceed to reply to a major hearth 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 presently, as entry stays severely restricted.”
What’s the impact on flights?
Twenty-three incoming flights had been diverted on Tuesday night time and within the early hours of Wednesday morning. Passengers arrived as distant as Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol late at night time.
Ten outbound departures had been cancelled on Tuesday night, together with flights which had already been boarded.
On Wednesday morning, 85 planes are attributable to 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 night time’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 attributable to knock-on results from the closure.
What occurs to these individuals?
Underneath European air passengers’ rights guidelines they’re entitled to different flights and resort stays as obligatory, however such is the size of this that it’s doubtless many individuals might want to attempt to discover different flights and declare again the money.
Presumably some individuals will come again and discover their automobile has gone up in smoke?
Simon Calder11 October 2023 05:20
Lodges round Luton Airport absolutely booked as passengers pressured to cancel tickets
Lodges round Luton Airport had been absolutely booked as passengers had been pressured to cancel their tickets final minute following a large blaze on the automobile park.
“Acquired final three rooms in Ibis resort, we had been fortunate, there are such a lot of can’t get into any accommodations. Workers at Luton very useful,” wrote a passenger on social media X.
Acquired introduced off flight after two hours on airplane due to hearth at Luton Airport, emergency companies working arduous. Acquired final three rooms in Ibis resort, we had been fortunate, there are such a lot of can’t get into any accommodations. Workers 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 hearth at Luton Airport
Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency companies battle a blaze that broke out at Luton Airport simply earlier than 9pm on Tuesday.
5 individuals have been admitted to Luton and Dunstable hospitals for smoke inhalation.
A sixth individual was handled on the scene however didn’t require additional medical remedy.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar11 October 2023 05:48