Today in History: May 6, the Hindenburg crashes in flames in New Jersey

The Final Flight of the Hindenburg

The Hindenburg was one of the largest aircraft ever built and represented the height of luxury air travel during the 1930s. Operated by Germany’s Zeppelin Company, the massive hydrogen-filled airship carried passengers across the Atlantic in elegant style, complete with dining rooms, lounges, and private cabins.

On the evening of May 6, the Hindenburg arrived in New Jersey after a transatlantic flight from Germany. As the airship attempted to dock at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, disaster suddenly struck.

Without warning, flames erupted near the tail of the aircraft. Within seconds, the fire rapidly spread across the hydrogen-filled structure, engulfing the airship in a massive inferno before horrified spectators and news cameras.