Defining Stories of the 1930s: Top 10 Headlines Rewind
Published Tuesday, March 12, 2024 By Newstrendo Staff
5. The Hindenburg Disaster
On May 6, 1937 the German airship Hindenburg crashed in a fiery explosion killing 36 people. This event marked the end of an era for airships and is considered one of the most catastrophic accidents of the 1930s.
The Hindenburg was one of the largest and most ambitious airships ever constructed. It had a successful transatlantic flight from Germany to the United States in 1936, but its second voyage proved to be its last. As it arrived to Lakehurst Naval Air Station, an explosion occurred that caused the Hindenburg to burst into flames, resulting in the death of 36 people on board. The cause of the accident remains a mystery, though it is widely believed to be due to hydrogen gas leakage or static electricity.