Passengers at Heathrow Airport faced major delays early on March 10, 2025, following a dramatic vehicle fire inside one of the airport's tunnels. The incident occurred just before 3am, causing significant disruption as authorities closed the M4 southbound between junctions 4 and 4A. Nearby travelers found their plans altered as fire crews battled the flames from the vehicle, leading to disrupted access to Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
The London Fire Brigade was notified of the blaze at approximately 2:57 am, arriving swiftly to the scene. According to reports, the car, which was diesel-powered, was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived. "We were called just before 3am to reports of car fire in a tunnel near Heathrow Airport. Firefighters attended and discovered a car fully alight. The fire was safely extinguished by firefighters, and no one was reported to be injured," explained a spokesperson for the fire brigade. The fire was contained by 3:45 am, with firefighters leaving the scene shortly after 4:30 am.
During the firefighting operation, traffic on the M4 was redirected via local routes to alleviate the congestion. Drivers were advised to use the M25 junction 14 or M4 junction 3 as alternative access points to the airport. According to Heathrow Airport officials, road access to Terminals 2 and 3 was "partially restricted" due to the fire. A spokesperson for the airport commented, "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 apologize for the disruption caused."
While emergency services handled the car fire, National Rail also warned of disruptions between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 4, though these issues were attributed to another fire near the tracks. This compounded the travel problems for many who were already facing delays due to the vehicle incident.
Despite the chaos, there were no injuries reported among airport passengers or emergency personnel. The prompt response from emergency services ensured the fire was controlled swiftly, averting what could have been a more severe incident. Later updates confirmed all roads had reopened, but congestion around the area persisted as the morning rush hour approached.
Travelers expressed frustration on social media, reporting long waits on the road and inside the airport as they sought to catch their flights. "There are still long tailbacks on the roads in and around Heathrow, with many passengers on planes also waiting to take off," stated one traveler via Twitter.
Authorities noted earlier this year, Heathrow Airport had reported significant financial recovery with pre-tax profits hitting £917 million for 2024, indicative of increased passenger flow and cargo operations. Yet the disruptions caused by the vehicle fire underscored the challenges faced during peak travel times, especially when incidents occur outside the main terminals.
Heathrow has positioned itself as the UK’s gateway to international travel, welcoming 83.9 million travelers last year. The airport has committed to improving facilities and ensuring efficient service, but unforeseen incidents like the recent vehicle fire can create immediate challenges.
A spokesman for Heathrow stated, "All roads have now reopened but there continues to be some congestion around the airport. We sincerely apologize for the disruption caused this morning to our passengers." This incident highlights the importance of infrastructure resilience and speedy emergency response capabilities at one of the world’s busiest airports.