M8 closed with man arrested after car bursts into flames near Glasgow Airport

The M8 has been reopened after being closed for 12 hours and a man has been arrested after a car burst into flames on the carriageway.

Emergency services were called to the scene near Junction 28 Glasgow Airport Interchange at around 3am on Tuesday.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched two appliances to deal with the blaze.

The motorway was shut westbound as smoke from the fire billowed across the carriageway.

Forensics officers and sniffer dogs could be seen attending the scene.

Long tailbacks formed and at 12.35pm Traffic Scotland said the M8 had been shut in both directions due to the ongoing “police incident”.

M8 in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Traffic Scotland

The Erskine Bridge was also closed by police.

The closure was in place between Junction 28 and Junction 30 Craigton Interchange.

Shortly before 3pm, the reopened – 12 hours since the original incident.

Police confirmed a 36-year-old man had been arrested in connection with a road traffic offence.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.55am on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, police received a report of a damaged vehicle on fire, on the M8 near Junction 29, Paisley.

“Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished. A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.

“The road is currently closed to allow for investigation and recovery to take place. Local diversions are in place.”