new york:
A sailing ship from the Mexican Navy collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday while participating in a promotional event in New York City. The incident occurred when the ship’s tallest mast struck the bridge, causing damage as it drifted along the East River.
Authorities confirmed that emergency services responded to reports of injuries, although specifics regarding the number of injured individuals—either from the boat or the bridge—were not provided.
Footage captured by bystanders showed the mast breaking and partially collapsing upon impact with the bridge’s structure. The videos highlighted heavy traffic on the bridge during the incident.
The ship was displaying a large Mexican flag in green, white, and red, while onlookers hurriedly moved closer to the riverbank to get a better view.
Sydney Niedel and Lily Katz recounted to The Associated Press that they were outside enjoying the sunset when they witnessed the moment of impact and saw one person hanging from the ship. Katz expressed uncertainty about whether it was her eyes playing tricks or what she actually saw but confirmed that she observed someone suspended from a harness for at least 15 minutes.
They remarked that they later noticed two individuals being transferred from the ship to a small boat.
The Mexican Navy, via a post on the social platform X, acknowledged the incident involving the Cuauhtemoc, their training vessel, and confirmed it had sustained damage after colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge.
They stated that both personnel and material conditions are being evaluated in collaboration with local authorities who provided aid.
The Secretary of the Navy emphasized a commitment to personnel safety, transparency, and quality training for the Navy’s future officers.
The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, spans about 1,600 feet (approximately 490 meters) and features two iconic masonry towers. According to the city’s transportation department, it sees over 100,000 vehicles and about 32,000 pedestrians each day, making it a significant tourist destination.
The Mexican Navy reported that the ship is about 297 feet long, 40.5 meters wide, and 12 meters deep, having first set sail in 1982.
Each year, as part of its Naval Military Academy’s training programs, the Navy sends off cadets, and this year, on April 6th, a contingent of 277 individuals departed from Acapulco, Mexico.
The ship’s journey included stops at 22 ports across 15 different nations, which featured destinations like Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York City, among others. Planned visits also included Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, St. Malo, and Dunkirk in France, and Aberdeen in Scotland, amounting to a total of 254 days at sea, with 170 of those days designated for travel.
