Dramatic Vehicle Fire Disrupts Operations at Gatwick Airport

A dramatic incident unfolded at Gatwick Airport this afternoon when a car burst into flames. Video captured the vehicle smoking near an exit barrier before rapidly igniting. Explosions, likely from the tires, were heard as the car was quickly consumed by fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed in the blaze.

According to a witness, the car, appearing to be a dark-colored Volkswagen, had pulled up to the exit barrier in Car Park 6 and began to emit smoke. An AA van driver attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher, but the smoke persisted. Flames then erupted from the hood, and the car was soon fully engulfed.

Firefighters arrived promptly and extinguished the fire. The witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the scene as traumatic. He reported that people screamed as the tires exploded, creating sounds similar to gunshots. The witness, who was on a layover, also mentioned that the pillar next to the car had begun to catch fire.

The witness believes the driver escaped the vehicle before the fire fully erupted. A London Gatwick spokesperson confirmed that the airport Fire Service responded to the vehicle fire outside a North Terminal car park. Car access to the North Terminal was temporarily halted during the incident but has since been restored.