Tragic Collision: Two Dead as Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge

The Incident: A Catastrophic Collision

The Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot-long, three-masted training vessel of the Mexican Navy, was on a goodwill tour and had been docked at New York’s Pier 17 as part of its global voyage to promote Mexico’s naval heritage. The ship, carrying 277 crew members, including naval cadets, was departing for Iceland when disaster struck just before 8:30 p.m. EDT. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the vessel suffered a mechanical failure, losing power and steering control, which caused it to drift into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Eyewitness videos circulating on social media platforms like X captured the chilling moment when the ship’s towering 147-foot masts collided with the bridge, snapping and collapsing onto the deck. Naval cadets, dressed in white uniforms, were seen dangling from the rigging, some clinging to harnesses for up to 15 minutes before rescue teams could reach them. “We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes,” witness Lily Katz told the Associated Press. “We were able to zoom in on our phone, and there was someone dangling from the harness at the top for at least 15 minutes before they were rescued.”

The collision caused immediate panic among onlookers at Brooklyn Bridge Park and the South Street Seaport, with bystanders running from the shore as the massive vessel veered dangerously close to the dock. “It was horrifying,” said Torrey Leonard, who witnessed the crash while dining nearby. “We heard this wood crunch, and our hearts were skipping a beat.”

The Cuauhtémoc: A Proud Vessel Halted

The Cuauhtémoc, named after the last Aztec emperor, is a steel-hulled, three-masted barque launched in 1982. Known as the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” it serves as a training vessel for Mexico’s Heroic Naval Military School, completing cadets’ education with annual global voyages. This year, the ship embarked from Acapulco on April 6, with plans to visit 22 ports in 15 countries, including New York, Havana, and Reykjavik. Its festive lights, massive Mexican flag, and naval cadets in traditional attire had drawn admiration from New Yorkers before the tragic crash.

The Mexican Navy issued a statement on X, expressing its commitment to transparency and the safety of its personnel. “During the sailing maneuver of the Cuauhtémoc in New York, a mishap occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the training ship, preventing the continuation of the training cruise for the time being,” the statement read. The Navy is working with local authorities to review the incident and support those affected.

What’s Next?

As the NTSB investigates, questions remain about how such a catastrophic accident could occur in one of the world’s busiest waterways. The Cuauhtémoc’s mechanical failure raises concerns about the maintenance and oversight of naval training vessels, while the incident’s timing—days before New York’s Fleet Week on May 21—adds a somber note to the city’s maritime celebrations.

For now, the Cuauhtémoc remains docked at Pier 36, its masts shattered and its voyage halted. The Mexican Navy faces the daunting task of repairing the vessel and addressing the emotional toll on its cadets, many of whom witnessed the tragedy firsthand. Meanwhile, New Yorkers and visitors continue to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, a resilient symbol of the city’s enduring spirit, unscathed by the collision but forever marked by this tragic event.

The Toll: Lives Lost and Injuries Sustained

The human cost of the accident was devastating. Mayor Adams confirmed early Sunday that two crew members perished after falling from one of the ship’s masts during the collision. Nineteen others were injured, with two in critical condition and four sustaining serious injuries. All injuries occurred on the ship, and no one fell into the East River, according to NYPD Chief of Special Operations Wilson Aramboles. The Mexican Navy reported that 22 people were injured, with 19 requiring hospital treatment.

Emergency responders, including the New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit and Fire Department divers, acted swiftly to treat the injured and secure the vessel. Tugboats later towed the Cuauhtémoc to Pier 36, where it remains as authorities assess the damage. The Mexican Embassy and Consulate in New York are providing support to the affected cadets and their families, with Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán personally attending to the situation.

The Brooklyn Bridge: A Symbol Spared

Remarkably, the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge, a major tourist attraction and vital link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, sustained no significant structural damage. The New York City Department of Transportation conducted a preliminary inspection and reopened all lanes of the bridge by 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. “While inspections will remain ongoing, there are no signs of structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge at this time,” said Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams.

The bridge, completed in 1883, has a navigational clearance of 127 feet at high tide, which should have been sufficient for the Cuauhtémoc to pass safely. However, the ship’s mechanical failure and the East River’s strong currents likely contributed to the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause, with preliminary reports pointing to a loss of power and steering as key factors.

Public Reaction and Social Media Buzz

The collision quickly became a trending topic on X, with users sharing dramatic videos and expressing shock at the incident. “Just watched the Brooklyn Bridge get smoked live by a boat with a massive Mexican flag,” posted Nelson Slinkard (

@TheWillieNelson), capturing the moment the masts snapped. Another user,

@MeanLILMeoW, questioned how the ship’s crew failed to account for the bridge’s clearance, calling the event “horrific.” The hashtag #BrooklynBridgeCrash trended as netizens debated the implications of the accident and mourned the lives lost.

Public officials also weighed in. New York Attorney General Letitia James posted on X, “I’m praying for everyone who was on this ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge this evening.” City Council Member Lincoln Restler called the incident “exceptionally reckless and negligent,” urging a thorough investigation into the captain’s decision-making.

The crash of the Cuauhtémoc into the Brooklyn Bridge is a stark reminder of the unpredictability of maritime travel and the importance of rigorous safety protocols. At Big Entertainment News, our hearts go out to the families of the two crew members who lost their lives and to those recovering from injuries. We will continue to follow this story as the NTSB investigation unfolds, bringing you the latest updates on this historic and heartbreaking incident.

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