Goodyear blimp crashes in Germany, pilot dies
6/13/2011CHICAGO — A Goodyear blimp caught fire and crashed near Friedberg, Germany, on Sunday, killing the pilot, the U.S. tire maker said on Monday.
The airship was one of two the Akron-based company charters from a company called Lightship Europe Ltd. for marketing work in Europe.
It was coming in to land at Reichelsheim Airfield after taking three auto industry journalists for a ride, the company said. The three passengers escaped without injury, it said.
Goodyear said the other blimp it charters from Lightship Europe has been withdrawn from service until further notice.
Goodyear did not release the name of the pilot or any information about the cause of the fire. German aviation authorities are investigating the incident.