Luton airport: Flights suspended as emergency services tackle huge blaze caused by diesel car

An airport spokesperson said the fire flared up at Terminal Car Park 2 and that access to the airport was restricted.

Passengers have claimed online that boarded flights are being disembarked and they have been told the airport has closed.

In a statement Luton Airport said: "All flights are currently suspended as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2.

"Access to the airport is currently restricted and we ask that people do not travel to the airport at this time."

Bedfordshire fire service said the fire had affected 80 per cent of the car park's third floor.

The fire service has described it as a vehicle fire and added that 10 fire engines were in attendance.

Luton airport has asked people not to travel to the site at this time.

A diesel car has now officially been named as the source of the fire after the blaze destroyed 1,200 vehicles.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, revealed the origin of the blaze, saying: "We have no intelligence at this stage to suggest that this was anything other than an accidental fire that started in one of the vehicles that had not long arrived at the airport.

"It was not an EV. This was a diesel powered vehicle."

He told reporters at the scene: "On arrival my officers were faced with a severe and rapidly spreading fire involving a large number of vehicles that ultimately spread to multiple floors and involved a partial collapse of the car park.

"A few minutes later most of the upper floor was alight, car alarms were going off with loud explosions from cars going up in flames. The speed in which the fire took hold was incredible."