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Mexican Navy Ship Hits Brooklyn Bridge, 2 Dead
Two crew members died and 19 others were injured after a Mexican Navy training vessel struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday evening, officials confirmed.
The ship, named Cuauhtemoc, lost power while maneuvering, causing it to collide with the bridge and snap all three of its masts.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated on social media that among the 277 people on board, 19 sustained injuries, with two in critical condition.
“Two more have sadly passed away from their injuries,” he added.
The Mexican Navy later confirmed the fatalities, reporting 22 injured crew members—half of them seriously.
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The collision occurred around 8:20 p.m. as the ship attempted to pass beneath the bridge, which has a clearance of about 135 feet.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the masts were sheared off and crashed into the East River.
“There was panic on the ship,” said Nick Corso, 23, a Brooklyn resident who saw the incident. “Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts.
People ran back and were screaming!” Another witness, Arturo Acatitla, recalled seeing the ship’s lights go out moments before the crash.
New York officials confirmed the Brooklyn Bridge suffered no structural damage and reopened after a 40-minute closure.
The New York Police Department’s Chief of Special Operations, Wilson Aramboles, said the ship lost power during maneuvering, forcing it toward the bridge abutment.
The Cuauhtemoc, a barque built in 1982, had been docked in Manhattan since Tuesday and was departing for Iceland when the accident occurred.
The Mexican Navy stated no one fell into the water and no rescue operation was needed.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed sorrow over the deaths, while the Mexican Navy pledged transparency in its investigation.
The ship was later moved near the Manhattan Bridge as authorities assessed the damage.
This marks the second major ship-bridge collision in the U.S. in just over a year, following the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024.
