1 month ago
Last Updated:May 18, 2025, 10:52 IST
Viral footage showed one of the ship's 147-foot masts colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge and crashing onto the deck, injuring multiple crew members aboard.
The Cuauhtémoc ship colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge. (Photo: X)
A Mexican navy training ship en route to New York collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, causing one of its masts to crash onto the deck, which left two dead and 19 people injured, according to authorities and reports. The Cuauhtémoc was carrying 277 crew members at the time of the crash.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said 19 people were injured in the incident, four of them seriously. Two of the four people who suffered more serious injuries later died, Adams announced on social media early Sunday morning (local time). In the videos, many people dressed in what appeared to be white sailor uniforms could be seen dangling from the ship’s crossbeams.
“During the departure manoeuvre of the Cuauhtémoc Sailboat in New York, an incident occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge that caused damage to the Training Ship, temporarily preventing the continuation of the training cruise," the Mexican Navy said in a post in Spanish on X.
Durante la maniobra de zarpe del Velero Cuauhtémoc en Nueva York, se registró un percance con el Puente de Brooklyn que provocó daños al Buque Escuela, impidiendo por el momento la continuación del crucero de instrucción.El estado del personal y material se encuentra en… pic.twitter.com/7imVEzks4m
— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) May 18, 2025
Video footage uploaded on social media showed a tall mast striking the bridge’s deck before plunging dozens of feet down onto the ship’s deck below. As the three-masted vessel hit the iconic New York landmark, two of the three masts studded with fairy lights collapsed, with passengers appearing to be standing directly underneath. Another video showed the bridge shaking from underneath as the ship slammed into it.
New York Police Department Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship had just left a Manhattan pier and was supposed to have been headed out to sea, not toward the bridge. He said an initial report was that the pilot of the ship had lost power due to a mechanical problem, though officials cautioned that information was preliminary.
Onlookers in the park on the Brooklyn side under the bridge can be heard in the clip screaming, “Oh s***!"
In an absolutely stunning modern metaphor a ship blaring Mexican music and flying a massive Mexican flag just got destroyed by the Brooklyn bridge.Can’t make it uppic.twitter.com/AUJy0q3oFB
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 18, 2025
“So glad I able to capture the beauty of the Mexican navy boat before it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge," said one user on X. “Just watched the Brooklyn Bridge get smoked live by a boat with a massive Mexican flag," said another netizen.
Debris can be seen falling toward the deck of the ship, including portions of the masts, lights, and rigging, after the crash. New York emergency officials said they’re responding to an incident at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
A search and rescue operation was carried out to pull people out of the water after one of the ship’s 147-foot masts collided with the bridge, sources told the New York Post. Some victims in critical condition were taken to a nearby hospital.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said she was praying for those involved and urged New Yorkers to “follow local guidance while our first responders do their jobs." All lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge were briefly closed in both directions after the incident but had reopened as of 10:30 pm, as per CNN citing New York emergency officials.
The vessel was built in Spain in 1982, and is expected to feature in next year’s blockbuster Sail4th event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Location :New York, United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Mexican Navy Ship With 277 On Board Collides With Brooklyn Bridge, 2 Dead, 19 Injured | Video
