Flights at Heathrow Airport faced delays on Monday morning after a car caught fire inside an airport tunnel. The incident, which occurred in a tunnel connecting Terminals 1, 2, and 3, caused significant disruption to road access and prompted emergency services to respond.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 3 a.m. to extinguish the blaze. While the car was completely destroyed, there were no reported injuries. The M4 southbound between junctions 4 and 4a was temporarily closed due to the fire, leading to extensive delays for travelers.
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson provided an update via X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Due to an earlier vehicle fire, road access to Terminals 2 and 3 is partially restricted. Passengers are advised to leave more time traveling to the airport and use public transport where possible. We apologise for the disruption caused.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson confirmed that firefighters safely extinguished the fire and that the diesel-powered vehicle was involved. The airport has since confirmed that the tunnel has been reopened.
Bus companies also experienced delays and route alterations because of the fire. Carousel Buses, a local bus company, announced on X that their service to Heathrow would terminate early. The airport, one of the busiest in the world, revealed recent financial results, reporting increased pre-tax profits for 2024 but also a decrease in revenues.
