“Unlikely that any vehicles will be recoverable” following the car park fire at Luton Airport
"The emergency services have now relinquished control of the site to the airport, and efforts to ensure the site's safety are in progress.
Luton Airport has stated that it is unlikely that any vehicles will be recoverable following a significant fire that resulted in a car park collapse.
The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report of the blaze on level three of the airport’s Terminal Car Park on Tuesday.
Andrew Hopkinson, Chief Fire Officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, mentioned that approximately 1,500 vehicles were inside the car park when the fire occurred.
According to a statement from the airport, it is improbable that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable, but this assessment is still underway.
The airport has supplied the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) with the registration details of 1,405 vehicles. Alongside its parking provider, APCOA, it has also addressed nearly 16,500 customer inquiries since the incident.
An airport spokesperson acknowledged that this has been an incredibly distressing time for those affected. They are collaborating with the Association of British Insurers to explore the potential of safely retrieving personal items from the vehicles.
The airport has reported that the emergency services have returned control of the site and efforts are underway to ensure its safety.
A spokesperson for London Luton Airport stated, “We understand that this has been an incredibly distressing period for everyone involved, and we extend our gratitude to our customers for their ongoing patience and understanding as we navigate through the complexities following this incident.
“Since Tuesday evening, in collaboration with Apcoa parking, we have addressed nearly 16,500 customer inquiries.
“Managing such a high volume of queries during an ongoing investigation has understandably led to longer response times.
“Our team has been working tirelessly around the clock to keep customers updated on developments.
“We have furnished the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) with GDPR-compliant registration details of 1,405 vehicles, and they have confirmed that the majority have now been forwarded to individual insurers.
“We also strongly recommend all affected customers to promptly notify their insurance company.
“Unfortunately, it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable.
“However, this is still under evaluation.
“We are collaborating with the Association of British Insurers on behalf of various insurance companies to ascertain whether it will be possible to safely retrieve any personal possessions, and if so, how this process will proceed.
“The emergency services have now relinquished control of the site to the airport, and efforts to ensure the site’s safety are in progress.
“Until such time, we will not be able to provide more detailed information or a specific timeline.
“We remain committed to transparency and resolution and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.”
