Two Dead After Ship Strikes Iconic NYC Bridge

A tragic maritime incident unfolded on May 17, 2025, when the Mexican Navy's tall training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The impact snapped the vessel’s three masts and resulted in the deaths of two crew members. Nineteen others sustained injuries, two of which were reported as critical.

The Cuauhtémoc, which measures approximately 90.5 meters in length and has a mast height of 48 meters, was participating in a global goodwill tour. At the time of the incident, it had recently departed from a Manhattan pier and was expected to continue its scheduled journey to multiple international ports. However, the vessel appeared to lose power shortly after departure. This mechanical issue, according to initial assessments, caused the ship to drift in reverse toward the Brooklyn side of the East River, where it struck the bridge.

Eyewitness footage showed the masts breaking as the ship came into contact with the bridge. Several sailors were seen suspended in safety harnesses during the incident. Emergency services responded promptly, and no injuries were reported among bridge users. Authorities confirmed that traffic across the bridge resumed following a structural inspection that found no major damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with local agencies, has launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. While mechanical failure is the leading hypothesis, the role of water currents and human error has not been ruled out.

The incident also raised attention toward the vessel’s clearance capabilities. The Brooklyn Bridge has a vertical clearance of approximately 41 meters at its center, which is notably less than the height of the ship's masts. Whether this discrepancy contributed to the outcome remains part of the investigation.

Check out the video footage of the Mexican naval ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge.