A Mexican Navy training ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on 17 May, leaving two people dead and at least 20 others injured, according to local authorities.
The ship, Cuauhtémoc, was sailing along the East River with its lights on and sails fully extended when it struck the bridge. As a result, two people lost their lives and at least 20 others were injured.
This is insane footage of the Mexican Navy ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge.
What would you even do if you were up on that mast?
— Bruce (@bruce_barrett) May 18, 2025
The navy ship was carrying 277 people when it lost power while maneuvering near the Brooklyn side of the bridge and was unable to regain control, drifting toward the bridge and striking the structure.
Furthermore, despite the force of the collision, the Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major damage and was reopened to traffic after a brief closure for inspection. As reported, the two people that lost their lives were a Mexican naval academy cadet and a sailor.
Brooklyn resident Nick Corso told AFP that there was “lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts.” In addition, according to eyewitnesses Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz recalled seeing one person dangling from the rigging for approximately 15 minutes before being rescued, Guardian reports.
Speaking to the BBC, Kelvin Flores described the scene as chaotic, with “a lot of commotion” and emergency services facing difficulties reaching the ship due to heavy traffic.
The incident investigation is in progress and being actively coordinated between the governments of Mexico and United States, including the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the training ship Cuauhtémoc, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York.
…said Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s President on a social media post.
A bulletin from the Mexican Navy reported that 11 of the injured were in critical condition and confirmed that the remainder of the ship’s international tour had been canceled.
The Cuauhtémoc was en route to Iceland, with scheduled stops in cities including Aberdeen and London, as part of a commemorative tour marking the 200th anniversary of Mexico’s independence.
