A coach fire on the M6 brought a busy UK motorway to a standstill on 22 March 2026, just hours before the Carabao Cup final kicked off at Wembley. The coach, operated by Ridley Coaches, carried Manchester City fans heading to London. Everyone got out safely.
What happened to the Manchester City fan coach on the M6?
The coach caught fire on the M6 Toll southbound near Junction 3 in the West Midlands. All passengers and the driver evacuated before the fire spread. Video footage showed thick smoke and flames pouring from the vehicle, including through the windscreen.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service responded and brought the blaze under control. National Highways closed the M6 Toll southbound between Junction T4 (Weeford) and Junction T2 (Coleshill) to allow emergency crews to work. Traffic came to a standstill before diversions were put in place. The motorway later reopened. The coach was not a Manchester City Football Club vehicle, it belonged to Ridley Coaches, a third-party charter operator.
Were any passengers injured in the M6 coach fire?
No injuries were reported. Ridley Coaches confirmed all passengers and the driver evacuated safely before the fire took hold. One fan posted on social media from the standstill, saying the coach had gone up in flames just past the toll section of the road.
Despite the disruption, the fans did not miss the match. Ridley Coaches arranged replacement transport. The passengers continued to Wembley and arrived in time for the 4:30pm kick-off. The swift response from emergency services, including Warwickshire Fire and Rescue and National Highways traffic officers, helped limit the disruption and kept breakdown cover and recovery operations moving quickly.
What did Ridley Coaches say about the M6 bus fire?
Ridley Coaches issued a statement confirming the fire. The company said all passengers were safely evacuated with no injuries and thanked emergency services for their fast response. The firm confirmed the vehicle was carrying fans to the Carabao Cup final and that replacement coaches got everyone to the stadium. Ridley Coaches said it was working with authorities to understand what caused the fire.
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