A diesel vehicle caused the car parking structure at Luton Airport in London, England, to be nearly engulfed in fire which led to flight cancellations.
An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 passengers were affected by 273 suspended, cancelled, or diverted flights. Luton Airport reopened at 3:00 pm, however, airlines are cautioning all passengers to check with their airline to see about getting back on a flight.
Four firefighters and an airline official were treated at a hospital due to injuries sustained from the fire.
The hotels in the area were fully booked by would-be passengers who had to abandon initial travel plans.
It is believed that up to 1500 cars were damaged as more than 100 firefighters battled the inferno through the night, leaving tens of thousands of air passengers dealing with cancelled or diverted flights.
The fire broke out on the third level of the new Terminal 2 car park at approximately 9:00 pm on Tuesday. The fire was so intense that part of the structure collapsed. A senior fire officer said the entire structure may need to be demolished.
Those whose cars were affected by the fire are being advised to refer to the Luton Airport website for information. A number of cars were not damaged in an unaffected section, and a ramp is being installed to allow safe removal of those vehicles as the usual exit is not safe.
People with cars affected have been advised to refer to the Luton Airport website for further information.
