A tragic accident occurred late Saturday when a large Mexican naval vessel, on a goodwill visit to New York, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge. The impact caused the ship’s towering masts to crash onto the deck, resulting in two fatalities and 17 injuries, four of which are critical, as reported by fire officials and other sources.
The Cuauhtémoc, a majestic ship with a crew of 277, primarily cadets, was departing New York for Iceland when it lost power. The current then swept the ship into the bridge’s road deck around 8:30 p.m., as confirmed by Mayor Eric Adams and video footage of the incident. The collision resulted in the ship’s 147-foot masts being sheared off. Two sailors were atop the mast when it struck the bridge, which has a maximum clearance of 135 feet.
As the three massive masts struck the iconic bridge, at least two crew members were standing at the top, officials reported. Other crew members were seen hanging from the damaged masts. Eyewitness Elijah West, who was at Brooklyn Bridge Park during the crash, described the scene as chaotic, with people running and hanging from the sails. Police boats arrived quickly, guiding the ship to the Manhattan Bridge and initiating rescue efforts.
Video footage from the scene showed the high mast hitting the bridge’s deck and falling dozens of feet below. Other masts seemed to follow suit. Onlookers at a nearby park fled as the ship approached the green space.
The damaged ship is currently stationary in the water as emergency responders work on site. It is expected to be moved to Pier 36. First responders searched the waters, but no one was reported to have fallen in. The injured are being transported to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with critically injured individuals taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
The Cuauhtémoc, constructed in Spain in 1982 to train cadets, was in New York City promoting next year’s Sail4th tall ship event, which marks America’s 250th birthday. This stop is only the third in the ship’s eight-month global voyage, allowing Mexican cadets to hone their sailing skills in various locations, including Jamaica, Iceland, and Portugal.
This year’s class includes 175 cadets, the largest group the nation’s navy has seen to date. The ship’s orthopedic surgeon, Lt. Sg. Hugo Calvario, noted that the classes are growing, resulting in more responsibilities for the trainees.
The Mexican navy stated the accident, stating that the incident with the Brooklyn Bridge had damaged the training ship and halted the training cruise for the time being. The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support.