THIS is the moment flames tear through an EV after it exploded in a motorway tunnel near Heathrow Airport.
The incident – on the M4 – caused huge delays on Monday morning.
The car erupted into flames in the tunnel
The video shows the flames tearing forward
trafficcameras.ukThe M4 was closed southbound between J4 and J4A – with drivers advised to take alternative routes[/caption]
And in a blow to holidaymakers, access to Terminals 2 and 3 was cut off completely.
An airport staff member sent the clip to The Sun and said he came across the scene while being ferried to work on a bus.
He was stuck there for around 90 minutes from 6am and said it was unclear what had happened at the time.
“You start thinking all those things like terror attack – it became very concerning,” he explained.
“They reported there’d been an incident, they don’t tell you what it is.”
Later, his colleague who works in security, sent him the video having captured it from just yards away as the flames erupted.
As part of his job he’d been able to bypass part of the cordon.
“I did ask him what he’d seen because he works for security there. Some of the things he sees are confidential,” he said laughing.
“I think it started from the engine and quickly spread – but the tunnel would’ve been very hot. And it was dangerous to get so close.”
He added: “No one got hurt, but it was a big fire. Everyone was late.”
The motorway was closed southbound between J4 and J4A following the incident.
Both inbound and outbound tunnels to the airport were also initially shut from around 3am.
The worker went on to say shutting off the tunnels meant no access to the airport which he and some colleagues felt is “poor planning”.
“It was all everybody was talking about yesterday. Having two tunnels and only two entrances to the terminals for passengers.
“It’s like a ticking timebomb. No one can get access to Terminals 2 and 3. I don’t know any airport around the world with just two access tunnels.”
Later the outbound tunnel was opened in both directions to help filter through traffic.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said at the time: “We were called just before 3am today 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.”
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson said: “We sent two fire engines to the scene but once the fire was extinguished the car was completely destroyed.
“The fire was under control by 3.45am. London Ambulance were called to the scene but there are no reports of any injuries. We left the scene at 4.30am.”
The vehicle was originally reported to be electric, but subsequent investigations revealed it was diesel-powered, the fire service added.
Posting on X yesterday morning, a National Highways spokesperson said: “The #M4 southbound spur #Heathrow in #GreaterLondon is closed between the M4 J4 and J4A due to a vehicle fire in the tunnel.
“Emergency services are in attendance.
“Please allow extra time for your journey. Thank you for your patience.”
However, all roads are understood to have since reopened.
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: “An earlier vehicle fire affecting road access to Terminals 2 and 3 has now been resolved.
“All roads have now reopened but there continues to be some congestion around the airport.
“We apologise for the disruption caused this morning.”
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