The worst air disaster you’ve never heard of.
Issue no. 166, “American Hindenburg,” is now live:
Deep inside there was no question: The Akron was coming apart. As Deal ran for the bow, the incline became so severe that he was forced to climb the gangway like a ladder, hand over hand. Erwin was about 30 feet behind him. They both looked up to see a helium tank break away from its mooring. As the 120-gallon cylinder came crashing down, Erwin ducked; it missed him by inches. Deal was spared, too.
It occurred to Deal, who had not been near a window for an hour, that he had no idea if they were over land or water. He didn’t know which would be worse, not realizing that there were no life preservers on the ship.
Six other crew members were near Deal and Erwin, hanging on to girders as wires snapped and the ship’s interior frame shattered. No one screamed. No one said a word, perhaps because there was nothing they could do.
