The fire at Luton Airport was reported to have started in a red Range Rover , which investigators said was a diesel vehicle. The later investigation pointed to an accidental electrical fault or component failure in the car’s engine bay as the most likely cause.

What was identified

  • Vehicle: red Range Rover.
  • Fuel type: diesel, not electric or hybrid.
  • Likely cause: accidental electrical fault/component failure in the engine bay.

Why the confusion happened

Early speculation online suggested an EV or hybrid, but the investigation later ruled that out and said the evidence pointed to a diesel vehicle instead. The fire spread quickly through the open-sided car park, which helped turn a single-car fire into a major incident.

In context

The blaze destroyed more than 1,300 vehicles and severely damaged the car park structure. Authorities also said the incident could likely have been limited more quickly if sprinklers had been installed.