A massive Mexican Navy training ship, the Cuauhtémoc, lost power and crashed into Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in two deaths and at least 19 injuries. Officials are investigating the mechanical failure that led to the accident while rescuers attended to the injured at the chaotic scene.
Tragedy Strikes as Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge
Tragedy Strikes as Mexican Navy Ship Crashes into Brooklyn Bridge
A catastrophic accident involving the Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican Navy training ship, leads to two fatalities and numerous injuries in New York City.
In a tragic incident on Saturday, the Cuauhtémoc, a 277-person training ship from the Mexican Navy, collided with New York City's iconic Brooklyn Bridge, claiming two lives and injuring at least 19 others. Eyewitness accounts reveal a scene of terror as the vessel lost power during a maneuver, resulting in a catastrophic impact with the bridge's abutment.
Video footage captured the moment when the ship's towering masts, which rise to 158 feet, clipped the Brooklyn Bridge and crumpled onto the deck, causing chaos among crew members who were seen hanging precariously from the masts during the collision. Brooklyn resident Nick Corso described the panic that ensued, as onlookers erupted into screams and fled the area.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the tragic loss of life and mentioned that two of the injured are in critical condition. Fortunately, the bridge itself suffered no significant damage and was cleared for traffic shortly after a preliminary inspection. Authorities are attributing the accident to a mechanical malfunction leading to a power failure onboard.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that all three masts of the Cuauhtémoc were lost during the crash, but fortunately, no crew members fell into the water. Eyewitness Kelvin Flores recounted a scene filled with chaos, with emergency responders struggling to navigate through traffic to reach the site of the accident.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her sadness over the loss of two crew members, emphasizing her condolences in a public statement. After the crash, the disabled Cuauhtémoc was towed away from the scene. Measuring 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, the vessel had embarked on a journey from Acapulco for cadet training, with plans to stop in notable destinations, including the Tall Ships race in Aberdeen, Scotland.
As investigations continue, the New York transportation department confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge offers a height clearance of 135 feet, highlighting the stark contrast with the height of the ship's three masts, underscoring the tragic nature of the incident.
