Hindenburg Burns: The Airship Era Ends
The German airship Hindenburg caught fire while attempting to dock at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey on May 6, 1937, killing 35 of the 97 people aboard and one ground crew member. The fire consumed the 804-foot airship in just 34 seconds. Reporter Herb Morrison's live radio narration, "Oh, the humanity!" became one of the most famous broadcasts in history. The cause remains debated: static electricity igniting hydrogen gas is the leading theory, though sabotage has never been conclusively ruled out. The disaster destroyed public confidence in lighter-than-air travel, though the Hindenburg had actually completed ten successful transatlantic round trips before the crash. The Zeppelin company never operated another passenger airship.
May 6, 1937
89 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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