Mexican Navy Training Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing Two and Injuring 19
NEW YORK — A Mexican Navy training vessel, the ARM Cuauhtémoc, collided with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday evening, May 17, 2025, at approximately 8:20 p.m. EDT, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and injuries to 19 others. The dramatic incident, captured in eyewitness videos, occurred as the ship lost power during a departure maneuver from Pier 17 in Manhattan’s South Street Seaport, causing its towering masts to strike the bridge’s underside, snap, and collapse onto the deck. New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the casualties, noting that two of the injured remain in critical condition.
The Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot-long, three-masted barque used to train cadets at Mexico’s Heroic Naval Military School, was on a goodwill tour celebrating Mexico’s independence. Carrying 277 people, the vessel had arrived in New York on May 13 and was en route to Iceland as part of a 254-day journey visiting 22 ports across 15 countries. The ship’s masts, reported to be 147 feet tall, exceeded the bridge’s 135-foot clearance at its center, leading to the catastrophic collision. The New York Police Department (NYPD) and city officials attributed the crash to mechanical issues and a power failure, with the East River’s current pulling the ship toward the bridge’s Brooklyn-side abutment.
Eyewitness accounts described a scene of chaos. Brooklyn resident Nick Corso, 23, told the Associated Press, “There was lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts,” as the masts snapped like “big twigs.” Videos posted on X, including one by @TheWillieNelson, showed the ship, adorned with a giant Mexican flag and amber lights, lurching backward as its masts shattered, with cadets in white uniforms dangling from rigging. Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz, watching from the shore, reported seeing a sailor hanging in a harness for at least 15 minutes before rescue. “It was insane,” said Kelvin Flores to the BBC, describing the “commotion and chaos” as emergency responders navigated clogged roads to reach the scene.
The NYPD Harbor Unit and New York Fire Department (FDNY) launched an immediate search and rescue operation, initially fearing crew members had fallen into the East River. However, NYPD Chief of Special Operations Wilson Aramboles clarified, “No one fell into the water; they were all hurt inside the ship.” All 277 aboard were accounted for, and the injured were transported to hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. The two deceased, who fell from a mast, were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The Brooklyn Bridge, a 142-year-old landmark spanning nearly 1,600 feet, sustained no major structural damage, according to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). All lanes, briefly closed in both directions, reopened by 10:30 p.m. after a preliminary inspection. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with early indications pointing to a mechanical failure, though officials caution that findings are preliminary.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed deep sadness over the loss, posting on X, “Our solidarity and support go out to their families.” The Mexican Navy, in a statement on X, confirmed the Cuauhtémoc—dubbed the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas”—was damaged, halting its training cruise. The Navy is reviewing personnel and equipment status with local authorities, emphasizing its commitment to safety and transparency. Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, are assisting affected cadets and their families.
Public reaction on X highlighted the incident’s shock value, with @GaroweOnline noting, “Mexican navy tall ship smashes into Brooklyn Bridge, shears off masts after losing power, 2 dead, 19 hurt.” Some posts, like one from @MelissaRedpill, suggested onlookers anticipated the crash, though this remains unverified. City Councilmember Lincoln Restler called the incident “exceptionally reckless,” questioning the captain’s navigation given New York Harbor’s bridge constraints.
The Cuauhtémoc, built in Spain in 1982, was docked at Pier 17 for public tours before the crash, co-hosted by the South Street Seaport Museum. Tugboats later moved the damaged vessel to Pier 36. The incident has raised questions about maritime safety protocols in New York Harbor, particularly for tall ships navigating under low-clearance bridges.
For updates, visit nyc.gov or follow discussions on X.
Sources: BBC News, ABC News, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, posts on X‽web:0,1,2,6,17,18 ‽post:0,1,3,4