A Mexican Navy training vessel, the Cuauhtémoc, slammed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, snapping its masts and rigging and killing two cadets.
The ship, carrying 277 people, was departing New York on a goodwill tour to Iceland when the accident occurred around 8:30 pm (local time), according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Officials said the tall ship lost power while sailing away from South Street Seaport, causing it to drift backward into the bridge.
Sailors were standing along the masts in a traditional farewell ceremony when the crash happened. “It’s just horrible,” retired US Navy Capt. Alfred McLaren was quoted as saying by the New York Post, stunned that such a tragedy befell the usually well-regarded Mexican Navy.
Sailors clung to wreckage as masts collapsedShocking footage captured the moment the ship struck the bridge, with masts snapping and sailors left clinging to wires and ropes.
As per CBS News, 19 people were injured, and two remained in critical condition on Sunday.
Deceased identifiedOne of the deceased has been identified as América Yamilet Sánchez from Veracruz, confirmed by Governor Rocío Nahle on social media: “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family.”
Sánchez, a 20-year-old award-winning swimmer from Veracruz’s capital, had reportedly arrived in New York on May 13.
She had posted a smiling photo of herself in front of the ship just hours before the tragedy. According to local outlet e-Consulta Veracruz, she had won several medals in swimming.
The other deceased cadet, Adal Jair Marcos of Oaxaca, was known to his friends as “Tyson” or simply “Marcos.”
The New York Post reported he had spent the last nine months aboard the Cuauhtémoc, travelling to places like Hawaii, Tokyo, New Zealand, and Australia. A friend remembered him online: “More than a friend. A brother.”
Mexico’s Navy has pledged to return the cadets’ bodies to their families as soon as possible.
Mechanical failure suspectedSources cited by the New York Post suggest that the Cuauhtémoc apparently lost steering capacity due to mechanical failure, despite having ample diesel fuel.
The ship was en route to a refuelling stop at the Brooklyn waterfront before setting sail for Iceland. According to a spokesperson for the city’s Office of Emergency Management, the ship had not intended to sail beneath the bridge.
A local harbour pilot and a docking pilot were involved in assisting the ship’s departure. One was reportedly aboard the vessel at the time of the crash. Former US Coast Guard Lt Henry Lipian was quoted as saying by The Post that while dropping anchor might have slowed the ship, “You lose your engine… you’re at the mercy of the elements.”
Investigations underway The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has dispatched a go-team to investigate the incident. On Sunday morning, New York City Emergency Management held an interagency meeting with FDNY, NYPD, the Coast Guard, MTA, and others to coordinate their response.
“We will ensure a robust investigation and support for those impacted while maintaining the safety and security of the Port of New York,” the Coast Guard said.
Bridge safe but monitoring system hitMayor Adams confirmed there was no structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge.
However, CBS News reported that a monitoring system beneath the bridge used for inspections was damaged in the collision.
Schumer raises federal concernsSenate minority leader Chuck Schumer raised concerns about whether staffing and resource issues at the US Coast Guard may have contributed.
“There are many more questions than answers as to how the accident occurred and whether it could have been prevented,” Schumer said.
He highlighted the Coast Guard’s Vehicle Traffic Service (VTS) system, akin to air traffic control, and questioned whether the current DHS hiring freeze and the lack of a permanent Coast Guard commandant might have left the VTS understaffed or under-functioning.
“This accident could be a national harbinger, demanding immediate attention,” Schumer added.
Resemblance to Baltimore tragedy The crash has drawn comparisons to the 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, where a container ship lost power and brought down the structure, killing six workers.
Unlike that case, Cuauhtémoc’s lights remained on after the crash.
About the Mexican navy shipThe Cuauhtémoc, a 43-year-old tall ship used primarily for training naval cadets, was docked at Pier 17 in Manhattan before its ill-fated departure.
The vessel was also expected to take part in New York’s 250th Independence Day naval parade in 2026, said Peter Himler of Flatiron Communications, though it had not yet been confirmed as a participant.
The Cuauhtémoc was on a training cruise to mark the “Bicentennial of the Consolidation of the Independence of the Seas,” celebrating 200 years since the Mexican Navy expelled the last Spanish strongholds.
The vessel departed from Cozumel on May 4 for a 170-day voyage visiting 22 ports in 15 countries. Most of its 277 crew, 213 men and 64 women, were young naval cadets from the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar, based in Antón Lizardo, Veracruz.
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