UPDATE: |Gatwick fire: Dramatic moment car erupts into flames as ‘people left screaming’ News

Explosions could be heard as the tyres burst, with the car soon becoming completely destroyed

A car dramatically erupted into flames at a major UK airport on Sunday afternoon (April 13). Video footage captured the car smoking as it waited at an exit barrier – before quickly catching fire.

Explosions could be heard as the tyres burst, with the car soon becoming completely destroyed at Gatwick Airport. A witness to the incident said the car – which appears to be a dark-coloured Volkswagen – pulled up to the exit barrier in Car Park 6 and ‘started smoking’.

The driver of a nearby AA van jumped out with a fire extinguisher and tried to tend to the incident, the onlooker said – but nothing could stop the smoke.

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Flames began rising up out of the bonnet and the car soon ‘erupted’ into a fire, the man said. Firefighters arrived on scene quickly and the blaze has since been put out.

The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It was quite traumatic as it was a full on blaze. People were screaming as the tyres were blowing out – and it sounded like explosions or gunshots.

“I saw the whole thing. The vehicle pulled up to the barriers and then it started smoking. A man in an AA van got out with a fire extinguisher but he couldn’t put out the smoke.

“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.”

A London Gatwick spokesperson 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.”

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was contacted for comment.

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