At least two people died and about 20 were injured on Saturday night (May 17), when the Mexican Navy's Cuauhtémoc ship, carrying 277 passengers, crashed on to the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Its masts, 45 meters long, were too high to pass under the arched bridge and broke when the sailing training ship tried to pass underneath, as it had "lost power", most likely due to mechanical failure.
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
Video from the moment of the collision shows the masts of the Cuauhtémoc hitting the underside of the bridge, breaking on impact, with pieces falling towards the deck of the ship. The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. (local time) while the ship was departing from a Manhattan pier.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the ship "lost power" and crashed into the bridge, while early estimates from city authorities say it may have been caused by a mechanical problem. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The boat lost power while the captain maneuvered, causing the sailboat to move toward the bridge on the Brooklyn side, Wilson Arabballs, chief of special operations for the New York City Police, told a news conference.
Videos show the boat passing under the bridge while the tops of its sails hit the metal structure.
Civilians along the East River watched in horror as the illuminated sailboat Cuauhtémoc, with its sails raised, headed for the bridge, the height of which proved insufficient for the safe passage of the ship.
Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc crashes into Brooklyn Bridge in New York, with its three masts hitting the structure mid-sail.
— Spicy Sonal (@ichkipichki) May 18, 2025
19 crew members hurt, four critical. Videos show some sailors hanging from the rigging during the impact.
The 297-ft ship was on a 254-day voyage to 22… pic.twitter.com/3VlkTOYCIR
The videos show several sailors in white uniforms standing on the masts, trying not to fall, although some did not make it and fell into the sea, while pedestrians near the base of the bridge appear to move away quickly as soon as they perceive the approach of the boat.
According to Mayor Adams, at least two people died after falling from one of the ship's masts during the accident. A security official told CNN that the two victims were among the sailors who were on the masts at the time of the collision.
Appears that the Mexican Navy sailing vessel ARA Cuauhtémoc just demasted itself on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 18, 2025
pic.twitter.com/fncYDnHtuz
A total of 22 people were injured, including 19 hospitalized for treatment, with two in serious condition, the Mexican Navy said.
The huge masts of the sailboat, 45 meters long, were too high to pass under the arched bridge and broke when the boat tried to pass underneath, during maneuvers by the captain of the boat, when it was determined that the boat was probably mechanically damaged.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which is one of New York's best-known landmarks and tourists' spots, connects Brooklyn with Manhattan and was completed in 1883.
The Cuauhtémoc is a training sailboat of the Mexican Navy and is a diplomatic symbol of the country abroad. Also known as the "Ambassador and Knight of the Seas", he often participates in major international regattas and visits ports around the world, promoting Mexico's cultural heritage and maritime tradition. She was built in Spain in 1981 and acquired by the Mexican Navy to train cadets and officers. She had been in the port of New York's South Street Seaport since last Tuesday. as part of a global goodwill tour with Iceland as its next destination.
The historic Brooklyn Bridge was not visibly damaged by the incident and remains stable, according to city authorities.
Traffic was disrupted in both directions for about 40 minutes, before being gradually restored, with inspections continuing to ensure the safety of the structure.
