Air traffic has resumed at London Luton Airport following a major fire

After a shutdown of more than half a day following a spectacular fire, air traffic resumed on Wednesday afternoon, October 11, at London’s Luton Airport, located forty kilometers north of London.

“The runway is now open, planes are starting to land and take off”He said on stage X While (ex-Twitter) warns, despite the re-opening of major roads, difficulties in accessing the site are still expected.

Traffic was halted on Tuesday evening as a large parking lot near the terminal caught fire and part of it collapsed. Images broadcast by firefighters overnight showed flames rising several meters from the top floor of the building, which housed about 1,500 vehicles.

Local ambulance services told X that five people – four firefighters and an airport employee – were hospitalized. Another injured person was treated at the scene, the same source said.

“Heavy Fire Spreads Fast”

More than 140 flights were diverted to other British airports on Tuesday evening, and almost half of flights due to take off or land at the airport on Wednesday – served by several low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air – were cancelled. In total, it could affect 25,000 passengers. Many maintained flights experience significant delays.

Initially scheduled for midday, the resumption of traffic was postponed until midday in the morning (1pm Paris time). Although the flight had already taken off, the passengers reported that the flight was cancelled. Others had to spend the night at a nearby station due to lack of access to the terminal.

According to firefighters who were contacted around 8:47 p.m. Tuesday, the fire started with a diesel engine in a recently constructed parking lot.

They faced “Heavy and fast-spreading fire involving large number of vehicles and spreading over multiple floors”Andrew Hopkinson, Head of Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, explained at a press conference at the site.

At the peak of the fire, more than a hundred firefighters were involved in efforts to douse the flames. Mr. said that not all the vehicles were destroyed. Hopkinson said, and he noted that there was no fire extinguisher at the location. “We are already in contact with the airport to ensure that all future and existing car parks are fitted”He argued.

Luton Airport will handle 13 million passengers by 2022.