Luton confirmed it had suspended flights in a tweet issued shortly before 10.30pm on Tuesday (10 October) and urged people to stay away from the scene.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue confirmed its attendance at around 8.45pm and declared a major incident shortly after 9.30pm after crews battled a "rapidly escalating fire".
Flights are currently suspended until 3pm on Wednesday. Passengers are advised not to attend the airport due to "severely restricted" access to the terminal.
TTG counted more than 70 cancelled flights on Luton’s departure board as of 6.30am on Wednesday, mainly affecting easyJet, Wizz Air and Ryanair services, with upwards of 50 arrivals also due to be impacted on Wednesday.
https://twitter.com/BedsFire/status/1711939141426983312
The fire broke out in Terminal Cark Park 2, which Luton said had suffered "partial structural collapse". The fire and rescue service, though, said the structural damage had been "significant".
According to the fire service, up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park. Four firefighters and a member of airport staff have been taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation. Another was treated and discharged at the scene.
Footage issued by the fire and rescue service show flames engulfing much of the upper level of the car park, and smoke billowing from the scene.
Fifteen fire engines and more than 100 firefighters attended the scene at the height of the blaze, along with three aerial appliances. Police and ambulance crews were also on the scene to assist the fore and rescue service.
Luton airport’s latest statement, issued at 3.30am on Wednesday, read: "Emergency services continue to respond to a significant fire in Terminal Car Park 2, which has now resulted in partial structural collapse.
"All flights are suspended until 12pm on Wednesday 11th October, please contact your airline for the latest flight information. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time, as access remains severely restricted."
https://twitter.com/BedsFire/status/1711941859176509700
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received calls to a fire involving a car on level three of a multi-storey car park at Luton airport at 8.47pm.
"Fire crews were faced with a rapidly escalating fire and declared a major incident at 9.38pm," it said. "A severe fire rapidly spread through the structure and the severity of the fire has caused significant structural collapse.
"It is believed that up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged. Firefighting operations were undertaken to control the blaze and protect nearby buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and the Luton Dart."
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The statement continued: "At its peak, there were 15 rescue pumps, three aerial appliances and over 100 firefighters on scene at this incident.
"We would like to thank our fire colleagues from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and London Fire Brigade, along with Bedfordshire Police and East of England Ambulance for their support.
"Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to undertake firefighting operations to help restore travel services to the public as soon as is possible."
The fire service is yet to comment on a potential cause.
