New York City, May 17, 2025 — A tragic accident occurred on Saturday when the Mexican Navy training sailing ship Cuauhtémoc collided with New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in two deaths and 19 injuries, local authorities confirmed.
The tall ship, carrying 277 people on board, lost power while maneuvering near the Brooklyn side of the bridge. Police reported the vessel was forced to head toward the bridge abutment after the power failure. The ship’s towering masts clipped the bridge as it passed underneath, snapping and falling onto the deck where crew members were standing.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with panic erupting as sailors hung from the masts and emergency responders rushed to aid the injured. Brooklyn resident Nick Corso told AFP there was “lots of screaming” during the incident. Another witness, Kelvin Flores, described the aftermath as “insane,” with stretchers and emergency vehicles trying to navigate through heavy traffic.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed on social media that two people had died in the crash and that two of the injured were in critical condition. Fortunately, no one fell into the water during the accident, and all personnel aboard were accounted for.
The Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major damage and was reopened following a preliminary safety inspection. Police suspect the collision was caused by mechanical issues and a power outage aboard the Cuauhtémoc.
The Mexican Coast Guard and local authorities coordinated the removal of the ship, which was later towed from the scene. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
The Cuauhtémoc, launched in 1982, is a 297-foot-long (91 meters) training vessel used by the Mexican naval military academy. Its towering masts reach 48.2 meters (158 feet), taller than the Brooklyn Bridge’s 135-foot clearance at its center, which likely contributed to the collision.
The ship had set sail from Acapulco on April 6 as part of a training voyage, with a planned final destination in Iceland.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to determine the precise cause of the power failure and the circumstances that led to the crash.
For more detailed news updates and reports, visit BlogHear.com
