A car erupted into a blaze of flames at Gatwick Airport, causing chaos after access to the North Terminal was temporarily suspended.
The vehicle, a dark coloured Volkswagen, began smoking at around 1.30pm yesterday afternoon, before catching alight.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) sent two fire engines to the blaze, which had spread to the car park barriers.
A driver of a nearby AA jumped out of his vehicle with a fire extinguisher to try and put out the flames, a witness said.
A car erupted into a blaze of flames at Gatwick Airport
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A witness said they believed that the driver had escaped from the burning car, however admitted the smoke had obscured their vision.
WSFRS said that they put out the blaze by 2pm, though they remained at the scene.
A spokesperson for the London airport said that the car park had since reopened.
Daniel Connelly, who was returning from a holiday when he spotted the burning car, said: “We were coming out of the terminal and we thought we could smell something burning.
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A witness said they believed that the driver had escaped from the burning car
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“As we came further round we saw this vehicle absolutely engulfed in flames.”
Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily Mail: “People were screaming as the tyres were blowing out - and it sounded like explosions or gunshots. I saw the whole thing.
“The smoke turned into flames and then the car erupted into a full blazing inferno.
“The pillar next to the car even started catching fire and burning.”
Access to the North Terminal was temporarily suspended
PAA London Gatwick spokesman said: “The airport fire service responded to a vehicle fire outside a North Terminal car park this afternoon. The fire has now been resolved.
“Car access to the North Terminal was temporarily suspended while we dealt with the incident, but have since reopened.”
A spokesman for WSFRS said: “At approximately 13.23 on Sunday we received a call reporting a car fire at Gatwick airport.
"Two fire engines were immediately [sent] to the scene and the fire, which had spread to the car-park barriers, was extinguished just after 2pm.
“The North Terminal car park has now fully reopened and is accessible to the public.”
