Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge
The National Traffic Safety Commission (NTSB) reported on Sunday that a Mexican Navy ship deployed a “Go Team” to the Brooklyn Bridge following a crash that involved at least two individuals boarding the vessel. This incident occurred when the Mexican Navy tall ship, Cuauhtémoc, collided with the iconic New York City landmark.
Initially, the U.S. agency responsible for investigating transportation disasters offered limited information regarding this deployment after the bridge strike on Saturday. However, they promised further updates would follow.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams mentioned that the latest update regarding the incident was shared around midnight, indicating that the Cuauhtémoc “lost its strength and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.” He stated that among the 277 people on board, 19 sustained injuries, with two in critical condition and another two deceased due to their injuries. Adams shared this information on X shortly after midnight.
The mayor also noted that preliminary findings suggested the Brooklyn Bridge itself was “undamaged” and had reopened to the public. “We pray for everyone on board and their families,” he added, expressing gratitude for the first responders who acted swiftly. “We guarantee that this accident isn’t too bad,” he remarked, which could come off as a bit optimistic given the circumstances.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed sorrow over the loss of two crew members, saying they “lost their lives in an unfortunate accident at New York Port.” She extended her support to their families and thanked Mayor Adams for his assistance.
The Mexican Navy clarified that the ship, serving as an academy training vessel, had been involved in an educational cruise named “The second anniversary of the integration of independence at sea.” The cause of the collision is still under investigation, as the ship was preparing to depart for Iceland when the incident happened.
Footage from spectators showed the Cuauhtémoc, with its large Mexican flag, reversing towards the Brooklyn side of the East River. As it made contact with the bridge, its masts struck the span sequentially. The crash occurred at around 8:20 PM, causing traffic jams, but there were no reported injuries among bridge pedestrians.
Curiously, despite significant damage to the ship’s mast rigging, officials confirmed that no one fell into the water during the collision. The Cuauhtémoc measures approximately 297 feet long, 40 feet wide, and stands at 160 feet tall. It typically embarks at the end of Naval Military Academy terms to train cadets, having set sail from Acapulco earlier in April. The ship reached New York City on May 13, hosting visitors for several days and was scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 countries over a 254-day voyage.
The specifics surrounding why the ship veered off course remain unclear. NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Alambores mentioned that the vessel had just departed from a Manhattan pier and should have headed towards open water, not towards the bridge. Initial reports suggested that mechanical failures could have caused the power loss for the ship’s pilots, but this information is still being confirmed. Videos revealed a tugboat was nearby during the collision.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, features a main span of nearly 1,600 feet and is supported by two towering masonry structures. Over 100,000 vehicles and approximately 32,000 pedestrians traverse it daily, making it a significant tourist draw. Although traffic was halted after the collision, inspections allowed for its reopening soon after.
As midnight neared, the damaged ship was slowly navigated down the East River, eventually docking with the aid of tugs.
