A Mexican navy training ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City Saturday, killing two people and injuring 19.
The sailing ship Cuauhtémoc was supposed to leave the city and sail out to sea when it struck the bridge Saturday evening. Its three masts snapped when it smashed into the world-famous bridge, with witnesses describing the sudden chaotic scene.
There were 277 people on board the vessel when it collided with the bridge. In videos of the incident, crew members were seen standing atop the rung of the mast could be seen clinging to the mast. Others were left dangling from ropes waiting for help, while some were left hanging from harnesses high in the air.
The 142-year-old bridge suffered “no significant structural damage,” the National Transport Safety Board confirmed at a Monday press briefing.
Here’s everything we know so far:
What happened?
The incident unfolded shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday on New York’s East River.
The Cuauhtémoc training vessel was on a goodwill tour and supposed to head out to sea after stopping in New York City to refuel. But instead of sailing south, the ship headed in the wrong direction toward the Brooklyn Bridge, city officials said.
Bystanders on the Brooklyn waterfront caught the moment of impact on camera, with footage showing crowds fleeing from the water’s edge as the ship’s towering masts collided with the bridge.
The ship appeared to strike what appeared to be scaffolding or gantry on the underside of the bridge, which was seen swinging.
Debris fell toward the deck of the ship, including portions of the masts, lights and rigging. Crew members, standing on the masts, clung to it as it braced for impact. Some were lurched forward but none fell into the water, contrary to earlier reports.
The New York Coast Guard said the Cuauhtémoc lost all three masts.
The historic bridge did not suffer any major damage and was reopened after a preliminary inspection.
What do we know about the victims?
The two people killed in the crash were both crew members. At a press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed their deaths and that 19 others were injured, five critically.
América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, of Veracruz, Mexico, was identified as one of the deceased cadets by the governor of Veracruz.
“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,” Rocío Nahle wrote on X. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family.”
The second victim has been named as Adal Jair Marcos of Oaxaca. Marco was known as “Tyson” to his friends and had been living on the boat for the last nine months of his life, reports El Universal.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mourned the loss of the two crew members.
"Our solidarity and support go out to their families," Sheinbaum said on X.
What caused the crash?
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. The National Transport Safety Board said at Monday’s briefing that it would release a preliminary report within 30 days, adding that it was too early to speculate or determine the cause.
Adams said the boat had a mechanical mishap that caused it to veer into the bridge, after it set off from nearby Pier 17.
The Cuauhtémoc was seen on Saturday moving rapidly in reverse toward the Brooklyn side of the East River, heading straight for the bridge. Brian Young, the board’s lead investigator, said that the ship requested assistance for tugboats at 8:24 p.m. Saturday and hit the bridge soon after. The NYPD was on the scene by 8:30 p.m.
The captain of the ship told authorities he lost power of the ship, forcing it to head for the bridge abutment on the Brooklyn side.
The safety board said it had not interviewed the ship’s captain or the crew as of Monday.
The Cuauhtémoc's mast height was 158 feet but the bridge has a 135-foot clearance at its center.
What do we know about the ship’s journey?
Each year, the Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican naval training ship for the Mexico’s Heroic Naval Military School, sets out at the end of naval military school to finish cadets’ training.
It planned to spend more than 200 days away visiting 22 ports in 15 countries including Jamaica, Cuba, Scotland, Spain, Barbados, Iceland and the U.K. but the trip was unexpectedly cut short in New York.
This year, it left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on April 6, the navy said. The Mexican consulate said it arrived at Pier 17 on May 13 and invited people to visit through May 17.
The ship, which measures approximately 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, was about to leave New York City for a goodwill tour to Iceland when the incident happened.
