After the loss of the German passenger Zeppelin "Hindenburg" in 1937, the Zeppelin Company director Dr. Hugo Eckener sought to obtain inert helium from the United States to replace the highly flammable hydrogen gas for use in their future dirigibles. Ickes opposed the sale although practically every other member of the Cabinet supported it along with the President himself. Ickes would not back down, fearing Germany would use the helium in military airships. The Zeppelin company could not obtain the helium from other sources, and Eckener refused to risk passenger safety with the continued use of hydrogen. As a result, Zeppelin passenger service came to an end.