Ship Collision with Brooklyn Bridge
A troubling incident occurred when a Mexican training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, resulting in two fatalities and numerous injuries.
Just before 8:30 PM, the tall ship, known as Cuauhtémoc, was carrying 277 passengers and crew, who were starting their journey to Iceland after a visit to New York City. Video footage captures the dramatic moment of the crash, where dozens of sailors were seen clinging to a 147-foot mast as events unfolded.
Witnesses on the Brooklyn side of the East River reported observing the three masts of the vessel strike the bridge, leading to visible damage and an apparent mechanical failure that sent the ship drifting downstream.
Other videos from bystanders displayed sailors hanging precariously from the rigging of the damaged mast.
“I saw someone hanging. It looked unclear at first, maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. I even zoomed in on my phone. Someone was suspended in a harness for what felt like at least 15 minutes before help arrived,” said Lily Katz, who spoke to the Associated Press.
An emergency diving team was dispatched to monitor the waters, but luckily, no one fell into the river, according to officials.
Describing the sound of the crash, Nick Corso remarked it resembled the “loud snap of a big twig.” He added that a sense of chaos erupted around as people boarded the boat, observing the sailors in a panic.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what to think. It felt surreal, almost like a scene from a movie,” he reflected.
The most critically injured sailor was reportedly on the mast during the incident. Those hurt were transported to Bellevue Hospital, as mentioned by Mayor Eric Adams.
“We are praying for everyone involved and their families. We also express our gratitude to the first responders who acted quickly. Thankfully, the accident is not as severe as it might have been,” Adams stated during a press briefing.
He confirmed that a preliminary inspection revealed no damage to the bridge, which is now accessible to the public.
The video also highlighted the heavy traffic on the bridge at the time of the collision.
Earlier that week, the Cuauhtémoc had arrived in New York and docked at the South Street Seaport Museum, providing tours to the public.
As of Sunday morning, the ship was moved to Pier 36 on the Lower East Side, secured by NYPD officers along with underwater units. The U.S. Coast Guard announced the establishment of a 50-yard safety perimeter around the vessel.
Following the tragedy, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences: “We are profoundly saddened by the loss of the two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc training vessel in this unfortunate accident at New York Port. Our thoughts and support are with their families.”
