A tall Mexican ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge after reportedly experiencing mechanical failures, which caused it to lose control. This tragic event echoes the Baltimore Pan disaster from last year.
Shocking footage captured the moment as the 147-foot vessel collided with the iconic bridge on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and injuries to at least 17 others, some of whom were critically injured and clinging to life.
Retired US Navy Colonel Alfred McClallen reflected on the incident, suggesting the crew might have been in a desperate situation just before the crash.
Sources indicated that the 43-year-old ship was en route to refuel at the Brooklyn Waterfront before heading to Iceland when it lost steering control due to mechanical issues. Strong East River currents seemed to have swept it quickly toward the bridge.
Local maritime pilots, who understand the river’s conditions, were assisting with the ship’s navigation prior to the crash, with at least one present onboard during the incident.
An investigation is currently underway to determine what went wrong, with former Coast Guard Lt. Henry Liepean suggesting that the crew might have attempted to drop anchor to prevent the crash.
Liepean mentioned, however, that simply dropping anchor might not have been sufficient to stop the vessel’s momentum entirely, especially with the elements at play.
He described it as the “worst scenario” for a crew, particularly one trained to operate in challenging environments like New York’s port. Losing power in such conditions poses significant dangers, as wind and currents can greatly affect a vessel’s trajectory.
The incident bore a striking resemblance to the 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, where six construction workers lost their lives when a large cargo ship lost power and crashed into the structure.
In this case, the sailing ship’s lights remained illuminated even after the collision, unlike during the previous incident.
Retired Colonel McClallen expressed shock at the tragedy, noting that he had never heard any criticism of the Mexican Navy before. “It’s just frightening,” he remarked.
The ship had a crew of 277, primarily serving as a training vessel for naval cadets.
Peter Himmler of Flatiron Communications mentioned that the ship was expected to participate in the upcoming Fourth of July event, although confirmation was pending.
Authorities stated that the two deceased crew members were within the mast rigging that collapsed upon impact, while others were injured by debris on the deck.
Injured crew members were taken to Bellevue Hospital, as reported by Mayor Eric Adams.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident but had not yet provided further comments.
