History of Flight: Breakthroughs, Disasters and More
From hot-air balloons floating over Paris to a dirigible crashing over New Jersey, here are some of the biggest moments of aviation history.
Jul 9, 2021
1937 Hindenburg disaster
Between WWI and WWII, aviation pioneers and major aircraft companies like Germany’s Luftshiffbau Zeppelin tried hard to popularize bulbous, lighter-than-air airships—essentially giant flying gas bags—as a mode of commercial transportation. The promise of the steam-powered, hydrogen-filled airships quickly evaporated, however, after the infamous <anchor>1937 Hindenburg disaster</anchor>. That’s when the gas inside the Zeppelin company’s flagship Hindenburg vessel exploded during a landing attempt, killing 35 passengers and crew members and badly burning the majority of the 62 remaining survivors.
The Hindenburg disaster | May 6, 1937 | HISTORY
The Hindenburg disaster \| May 6, 1937 \| HISTORY

Skip to content

[![History Logo](/assets/images/history/logo.svg)](/)

[Shows](https://www.history.com/shows) [This Day In History](/this-day-in-history) [Schedule](https://www.history.com/schedule) [Topics](/topics) [Stories](/news)

- [History Classics](https://play.history.com/channel/ancient-aliens-fan-favorites)
- [Live TV](https://play.history.com/live)
- [Your Profile](/profile/information)

Your Profile

[![](/assets/images/history/logo.svg)History](/)

- [Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)](https://www.facebook.com/History)
- [Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)](https://twitter.com/history)
- [Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)](https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=historychannel)
- [Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)](http://instagram.com/history)
- [Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)](https://www.tiktok.com/@history)

[Email Updates](/emails/sign-up)

- [Live TV](https://play.history.com/live)
- [History Classics](https://play.history.com/channel/ancient-aliens-fan-favorites)
- [Shows](https://www.history.com/shows)
- [This Day In History](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history)
- [Schedule](https://www.history.com/schedule)
- [Topics](https://www.history.com/topics)
- [Stories](https://www.history.com/news)
- [Videos](https://www.history.com/videos)
- [History Podcasts](https://www.history.com/podcasts)
- [History Vault](https://www.historyvault.com/?cmpid=HV_O_Site_H_Menu)

1. [Home](/)
2. [This Day in History](/this-day-in-history)
3. [May 6](/this-day-in-history/day/may-6)
4. The Hindenburg disaster

This Day In History: May 6

May \| 6

Choose another dateCurrent one is: May 6. Enter a date in the format M/D (e.g., 1/1)

Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows

May

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Today

![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)

[1937](/this-day-in-history/year/1937)

# The Hindenburg disaster

![](https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Feyewitness-account-of-hindenburg-disaster.jpg&w=3840&q=75)![](https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Feyewitness-account-of-hindenburg-disaster.jpg&w=3840&q=75)

The airship _[Hindenburg](https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/hindenburg),_ the largest dirigible ever built and the pride of [Nazi Germany](https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nazi-party), [bursts into flames](https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/aftermath-hindenburg) upon touching its mooring mast in Lakehurst, [New Jersey](/topics/us-states/new-jersey), killing 36 passengers and crew-members, on [May 6, 1937](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/05/07/94371612.html?pageNumber=1).

Frenchman Henri Giffard constructed the first successful airship in 1852. His hydrogen-filled blimp carried a three-horsepower steam engine that turned a large propeller and flew at a speed of six miles per hour. The rigid airship, often known as the “zeppelin” after the last name of its innovator, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, was developed by the Germans in the late 19th century. Unlike French airships, the German ships had a light framework of metal girders that protected a gas-filled interior. However, like Giffard’s airship, they were lifted by highly flammable hydrogen gas and vulnerable to explosion. Large enough to carry substantial numbers of passengers, one of the most famous rigid airships was the _Graf Zeppelin,_ a dirigible that traveled around the world in 1929. In the 1930s, the _Graf Zeppelin_ pioneered the first transatlantic air service, leading to the construction of the _Hindenburg,_ a larger passenger airship.

The 1930s

On May 3, 1937, the _Hindenburg_ left Frankfurt, Germany, for a journey across the Atlantic to Lakehurst’s Navy Air Base. Stretching 804 feet from stern to bow, it carried 36 passengers and crew of 61. While attempting to moor at Lakehurst, the airship suddenly burst into flames, probably after a spark ignited its hydrogen core. Rapidly falling 200 feet to the ground, the hull of the airship incinerated within seconds. Thirteen passengers, 21 crewmen, and 1 civilian member of the ground crew lost their lives, and most of the survivors suffered substantial injuries.

Radio announcer Herb Morrison, who came to Lakehurst to record a routine voice-over for an NBC newsreel, immortalized the _Hindenberg_ disaster in a famous on-the-scene description in which he emotionally declared, “Oh, the humanity!” The recording of Morrison’s commentary was immediately flown to [New York](/topics/us-states/new-york), where it was aired as part of America’s first coast-to-coast radio news broadcast. Lighter-than-air passenger travel rapidly fell out of favor after the _Hindenberg_ disaster, and no rigid airships survived [World War II](/topics/world-war-ii).

[![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)](/news/the-hindenburg-disaster-9-surprising-facts)

[**The Hindenburg Disaster: 9 Surprising Facts** \
Explore nine surprising facts about the massive German airship and its fiery demise.\
\
Read more](/news/the-hindenburg-disaster-9-surprising-facts)

[![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)](/news/hindenburg-disaster-zeppelin-crash-why)

[**The Hindenburg Disaster: Why the Giant Dirigible Burst Into Flames** \
Theories about why the giant German dirigible burst into flames range from negligence to sabotage to an 'act of God.'\
\
Read more](/news/hindenburg-disaster-zeppelin-crash-why)

[![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)](/news/history-flight-aviation-timeline)

[**History of Flight: Breakthroughs, Disasters and More** \
From hot‑air balloons floating over Paris to a dirigible crashing over New Jersey, here are some of the biggest moments of aviation history.\
\
Read more](/news/history-flight-aviation-timeline)

By: [History.com Editors](/author/history)

[HISTORY.com](http://history.com/) works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including [Amanda Onion](https://www.history.com/author/amanda-onion), [Missy Sullivan](https://www.history.com/author/missy-sullivan), [Matt Mullen](https://www.history.com/author/matt-mullen) and Christian Zapata.

* * *

## Citation Information

Article TitleThe Hindenburg disaster

Author[History.com Editors](/author/history)

Website NameHISTORY

URL[https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hindenburg-disaster](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hindenburg-disaster)

Date AccessedSeptember 13, 2024

PublisherA&E Television Networks

Last UpdatedMay 5, 2024

Original Published DateFebruary 9, 2010

## Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, [click here](mailto:support@history.zendesk.com?subject=Fact%20Check%20-%20The%20Hindenburg%20disaster&body=%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%0AReferring%20URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Fthis-day-in-history%2Fthe-hindenburg-disaster%0A%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94) to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

Print Page

## Also on This Day in History May \| 6

* * *

![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[2013](/this-day-in-history/year/2013)

### [Ohio kidnap victims rescued after years in captivity](/this-day-in-history/ohio-kidnap-victims-rescued-after-years-in-captivity)

[Crime](/topics/crime)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)

### [This Day in History Video: What Happened on May 6](/this-day-in-history/may-6-video)

[European History](/topics/european-history)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1954](/this-day-in-history/year/1954)

### [Roger Bannister runs first four‑minute mile](/this-day-in-history/first-four-minute-mile)

[Sports](/topics/sports)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1994](/this-day-in-history/year/1994)

### [English Channel tunnel opens](/this-day-in-history/english-channel-tunnel-opens)

[European History](/topics/european-history)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1994](/this-day-in-history/year/1994)

### [Paula Jones accuses Bill Clinton of sexual harassment](/this-day-in-history/paula-jones-accuses-bill-clinton-of-sexual-harassment)

[U.S. Presidents](/topics/us-presidents)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1935](/this-day-in-history/year/1935)

### [FDR creates the Works Progress Administration (WPA)](/this-day-in-history/fdr-creates-the-wpa)

[U.S. Presidents](/topics/us-presidents)

![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)

### Wake Up to This Day in History

Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox.

Get all of today's events in just one email featuring a range of topics.

Sign Up

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

**More details**: [Privacy Notice](https://www.aenetworks.com/privacy) \| [Terms of Use](https://www.aenetworks.com/terms) \| [Contact Us](https://support.history.com/)

![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1940](/this-day-in-history/year/1940)

### [John Steinbeck wins a Pulitzer for “The Grapes of Wrath”](/this-day-in-history/john-steinbeck-wins-a-pulitzer-for-the-grapes-of-wrath)

[Art, Literature and Film History](/topics/art-history)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[2004](/this-day-in-history/year/2004)

### [Final episode of "Friends" airs on NBC](/this-day-in-history/final-episode-of-friends-airs-on-nbc)

[Art, Literature and Film History](/topics/art-history)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1876](/this-day-in-history/year/1876)

### [“Duchess of Devonshire” painting stirs interest—and theft](/this-day-in-history/the-theft-of-duchess-of-devonshire-stirs-interest)

[Crime](/topics/crime)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1955](/this-day-in-history/year/1955)

### [West Germany joins NATO](/this-day-in-history/west-germany-joins-nato)

[Cold War](/topics/cold-war)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1992](/this-day-in-history/year/1992)

### [Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reviews Cold War in speech at Westminster College](/this-day-in-history/gorbachev-reviews-the-cold-war)

[Cold War](/topics/cold-war)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1991](/this-day-in-history/year/1991)

### [Harry Gant is oldest NASCAR winner—again](/this-day-in-history/harry-gant-is-oldest-nascar-winner-again)

[Sports](/topics/sports)![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)[1942](/this-day-in-history/year/1942)

### [All American forces in the Philippines surrender unconditionally](/this-day-in-history/all-american-forces-in-the-philippines-surrender-unconditionally)

[World War II](/topics/world-war-ii)

[**A+E Networks**](https://www.aenetworks.com/) Our Family of Brands

[History homepage](https://www.history.com)

- [History Education](https://www.history.com/classroom "Visit History Education")
- [History Vault](https://www.historyvault.com?cmpid=HV_O_Site_H_Footer "Visit History Vault")
- [Mobile/Apps](https://www.history.com/apps "Visit Mobile/Apps")
- [News](https://www.history.com/news "Visit News")
- [Share Your Opinion](https://www.historymakerscommunity.com/h/s/61qfFbcxN0jIWvjuPQmr5L "Visit Share Your Opinion")

**Follow History**

- [d](https://www.facebook.com/History)
- [ on twitter](https://twitter.com/history)
- [p](https://www.youtube.com/historychannel)
- [m](https://www.instagram.com/history)
- [+](https://www.tiktok.com/@history)

- [AETV homepage](https://www.aetv.com)
- [MYLIFETIME homepage](https://www.mylifetime.com)
- [MYLIFETIME movies homepage](https://www.mylifetime.com/lifetime-movies)
- [FYI homepage](https://www.fyi.tv)
- [VICELAND homepage](https://viceland.com/en_us/)

- [Biography](https://www.biography.com/ "Visit Biography")
- [Crime and Investigation](https://www.crimeandinvestigationnetwork.com/ "Visit Crime and Investigation")

- [History en Espanol](https://www.history.com/espanol/schedule "Visit History en Espanol")
- [LRW](https://www.mylifetime.com/schedule/lrw "Visit LRW")

- [Military History](https://military.history.com/ "Visit Military History")

- [Ad Choices](https://www.aenetworks.com/adchoices "Visit Ad Choices")
- [Advertise With Us](https://www.aenetworks.com/advertise "Visit Advertise With Us")
- [Accessibility Support](https://www.aenetworks.com/accessibility-support "Visit Accessibility Support")
- [Copyright Policy](https://www.aenetworks.com/copyright "Visit Copyright Policy")

- [Corporate Information](https://www.aenetworks.com/ "Visit Corporate Information")
- [Employment Opportunities](https://www.aenetworks.com/careers "Visit Employment Opportunities")
- [FAQ/Contact Us](https://support.history.com/hc/en-us "Visit FAQ/Contact Us")
- [Privacy Notice](https://www.aenetworks.com/privacy "Visit Privacy Notice")

- [Cookie Notice](https://www.aenetworks.com/cookie-notice "Visit Cookie Notice")
- [Terms Of Use](https://www.aenetworks.com/terms "Visit Terms Of Use")
- [TV Parental Guidelines](https://www.aenetworks.com/guidelines "Visit TV Parental Guidelines")

- [Contact Us](https://support.history.com/hc/en-us)
- [Copyright Policy](https://www.aenetworks.com/copyright)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.aenetworks.com/privacy)
- [Terms of Use](https://www.aenetworks.com/terms)
- [Ad Choices](https://www.aenetworks.com/adchoices)
- [Accessibility Support](https://www.aenetworks.com/accessibility-support)

© 2024, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.