Hindenburg Disaster
The German airship Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed while landing in New Jersey
May 06, 1937
The Airship Age at Its Peak
In the 1930s, giant hydrogen-filled airships seemed to represent the future of luxury long-distance travel. The German zeppelin Hindenburg was the largest aircraft ever built, stretching 804 feet in length — nearly as long as the Titanic. It could carry 72 passengers across the Atlantic in about 65 hours, faster than any ocean liner. Its luxurious interior included a dining room, lounge, promenade decks, and private cabins. The Hindenburg had completed ten successful round trips between Germany and the United States in 1936 and was beginning its 1937 season when disaster struck.
Fire Over New Jersey
On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg was attempting to dock at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey after a transatlantic crossing from Germany. Radio reporter Herb Morrison was recording a routine broadcast when the hydrogen gas ignited and the airship burst into flames. The entire ship burned in about 34 seconds. Of the 97 people on board, 13 passengers and 22 crew members died, along with one ground worker. Morrison's anguished commentary — "Oh, the humanity!" — became one of the most famous phrases in broadcast history.
The End of the Zeppelin Era
The Hindenburg disaster effectively ended the commercial airship era. The dramatic newsreel footage and radio coverage made the destruction vivid for audiences worldwide. Though the death toll was actually relatively small compared to other disasters of the era, the psychological impact was enormous. Germany's remaining passenger zeppelins were retired. Airships never again competed seriously with airplanes for long-distance passenger travel. The cause of the ignition has never been definitively proven, with theories ranging from static electricity to sabotage. The Concorde's story offers another example of how a single disaster can end an era of aviation.