Car Bursts Into Flames at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal – Dramatic Scenes Caught on Video
A vehicle suddenly caught fire at Gatwick Airport this afternoon (Sunday, April 13), causing panic and drawing swift emergency response. Shocking footage shows the moment smoke began billowing from the car as it waited at an exit barrier, moments before it was consumed by flames.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud bangs as the vehicle’s tyres exploded under the intense heat. The car, believed to be a dark-coloured Volkswagen, was stationary at the exit of Car Park 6 when smoke started pouring from under the bonnet.
According to a bystander, the driver of a nearby AA breakdown van rushed to assist, attempting to control the smoke with a fire extinguisher. Despite his quick response, the flames escalated rapidly, engulfing the car in a fierce blaze.
“People were screaming as the tyres burst—each one sounded like a gunshot,” the witness said. “The fire spread quickly, and at one point, even a nearby pillar began to catch alight.”
Emergency services arrived within minutes. The airport’s fire team successfully extinguished the blaze, and no injuries have been reported. The witness, who preferred to remain unnamed, believes the vehicle’s occupants escaped safely before the fire intensified.
“I saw someone climb out of the car as the smoke started, but it was hard to tell how many people were inside,” they added. The witness was on a long layover at Gatwick and had stepped outside for fresh air when the incident unfolded.
A spokesperson for London Gatwick confirmed the incident:
“This afternoon, the airport’s Fire Service responded to a vehicle fire outside a car park at the North Terminal. The fire has been dealt with, and car access to the terminal—temporarily suspended during the response—has now been restored.”
Further information has been requested from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.
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