Mexican Navy sailboat crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, killing two in US

A tragic collision occurred on May 18 evening when the Mexican Navy's training sailboat, Cuauhtémoc, crashed into New York City's iconic Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in two fatalities and at least 19 injuries, including two individuals in critical condition.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that the Cuauhtémoc lost power just before the crash, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The vessel, which was on a goodwill visit, had 277 people aboard, US officials confirmed. Footage from the scene shows the towering masts of the ship clipping the bridge as it passed beneath the structure. Authorities said crew members were on the masts at the time of the impact, causing them to snap and fall onto the deck.

Mayor Adams, in a statement posted on X, confirmed the death toll, adding that the Brooklyn Bridge had not suffered significant damage. US officials later clarified that no one had fallen into the water. Initially, Mexico's Navy reported 22 injuries, and an investigation into the incident is underway. The Cuauhtémoc lost the tops of two of its masts during the collision. The New York Coast Guard confirmed that all personnel onboard had been accounted for, and the injured were swiftly transported to local hospitals.

Mechanical issues and a power failure were likely causes of the ship’s collision with one of the Brooklyn Bridge's pillars. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with crowds watching the ship flee from the water’s edge just before the masts collided with the bridge. Kelvin Flores, a local resident, recalled seeing the aftermath of the crash. "Just seeing the actual damage was insane," he said. "People carrying stretchers... they were trying to get the injured out." New York police issued a warning for residents to avoid the area around the Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport in Manhattan, and Dumbo in Brooklyn due to heavy traffic and a large emergency vehicle presence. 

The Cuauhtémoc was later towed away from the scene. Measuring 297 feet (91 meters) in length and 40 feet (12 meters) in width, the vessel has been in service since 1982. It embarks on annual training voyages after the completion of cadet classes at Mexico’s naval military school. This year, the ship departed Acapulco on April 6, with Iceland as its final destination.

By Naila Huseynova