Johannisthal Air Disaster

The Johannisthal Air Disaster involved one of the first multiple fatality air disasters in history. It involved a Zeppelin L-2 airship and resulted in the death of all 28 passengers and crew on board. On October 17, 1913 at approximately 10:30am local time, hydrogen gas which was being vented was sucked into the forward engine and ignited causing the airship to explode and burn. It crashed near Johannisthal Air Field about 10 miles southeast of Berlin.