AIR LINER SENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20967, 2 September 1931, Page 11

AIR LINER SENSATION.

ATTEMPT TO BURN MACHINE. SUICIDAL PASSENGER'S ACT. (Received September 1, 9.15 p.m.) BERLIN. Sept. 1. A sensational incident occurred while a three-engincd Lufthansa air liner with eight passengers was flying over hilly forest country from Munich to Berlin. An explosion in the cloak-room suddenly startled those on board. The control officer battered down the door of the room and entered. He found the compartment on fire and a male passenger feeding the flames with petrol from a bottle. The passenger was overpowered, bound and gagged and when the machine landed was handed over to the police who had been communicated with by wireless. Later it was ascertained that the name of the arrested incendiary is Karl Hutte. He made two attempts to commit suicide while ho was in custody by opening veins and at present he lies dying in hospital. Hutte, who is a plain family man, was recently seized with a wild fit of extravagance. Secretly he drew out of the bank all bis wife's savings and spent the money in a few days at Munich. There ho bought an air ticket, intending to end bis life on the air liner and enable his family to obtain the £2500 for which each German air passenger is insured.