By the mid-1930s, only Germany still pursued airship development. The Zeppelin company continued to operate the "Graf Zeppelin" on passenger service between Frankfurt and Recife in Brazil, taking 68 hours. Even with the small "Graf Zeppelin", the operation was almost profitable. In the mid-1930s, work began on an airship designed specifically to operate a passenger service across the Atlantic. The "Hindenburg" (LZ 129) completed a successful 1936 season, carrying passengers between Lakehurst, New Jersey and Germany. The year 1937 started with the most spectacular and widely remembered airship accident. Approaching the Lakehurst mooring mast minutes before landing on 6 May 1937, the "Hindenburg" suddenly burst into flames and crashed to the ground. Of the 97 people aboard, 36 died: 13 passengers, 22 aircrew, and one American ground-crewman. The disaster happened before a large crowd, was filmed and a radio news reporter was recording the arrival. This was a disaster that theater goers could see and hear in newsreels. The "Hindenburg" disaster shattered public confidence in airships, and brought a definitive end to their "golden age". The day after the "Hindenburg" disaster, the "Graf Zeppelin" landed safely in Germany after its return flight from Brazil. This was the last international passenger airship flight.