Login
My Garage
New hero

Luton Airport Fire: Almost 1,500 cars “unlikely to be salvageable”

By Mathilda Bartholomew | October 17, 2023

Share

Why not leave a comment?

See all | Add a comment

“Regrettably, it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable."

Luton Airport Fire: Almost 1,500 cars “unlikely to be salvageable”

Following a substantial fire that led to the collapse of a car park, Luton airport has expressed doubt about the salvageability of any vehicles.

The news came to light five days after the blaze occurred at Car Park 2, forcing the airport's closure for 18 hours on October 10-11. This disruption led to the cancellation of 235 flights, impacting around 40,000 passengers.

Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson has stated that approximately 1,500 vehicles were present in the car park during the incident.

A spokesperson for Luton airport said: “Regrettably, it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable. However, this is still in the process of being assessed."

“We are working with the Association of British Insurers on behalf of the many insurance companies to establish whether it will be possible to safely retrieve any personal possessions and, if so, how this process may work.”

The day after the fire, a senior fire officer informed The Independent that the intense temperatures during the blaze may have significantly weakened the multi-storey car park, making any attempt to recover vehicles potentially perilous.

Following police and fire investigations, the site has been returned to the airport. Currently, efforts are in progress to evaluate the structural integrity of the car park, and stabilisation work is commencing.

Once the assessment is concluded, likely spanning several days, the feasibility of salvaging vehicles and possessions will be re-evaluated.

Related Articles

Labour approves £90 million for road improvements – Will it make a difference?
Labour has approved a £90 million investment under the Plan for Change initiative to upgrade key road routes across the UK, aiming to...
Feb 11, 2025
Self-healing roads? Scientists say AI asphalt could fix Britain's pothole crisis
Scientists have developed a self-healing asphalt made from biomass and oil-filled spores that can repair cracks within an hour, potentially...
Feb 11, 2025
Tesla's Cybercab: Fully self-driving taxis could hit the roads by 2027
Unlike traditional cars, the Cybercab will be a compact, fully self-driving vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals
Feb 11, 2025
MOT test costs could rise for the first time in 14 years
With so many costs rising, drivers will be keeping a close eye on what happens next with MOT prices – and whether the government decides...
Feb 10, 2025