On Saturday night, the Mexican Navy's majestic tall ship Cuauhtémoc, lit up with festive lights and flying a giant national flag, steered toward the iconic Brooklyn Bridge for a scheduled training visit. But moments before passing under its arched span, the vessel's 147-foot (45-meter) masts collided with the bridge, shearing off their tops in a dramatic crash.
The ship carried 277 cadets and crew on board. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, 19 people sustained injuries—two were left in critical condition—and two have tragically died from their injuries. The Mexican Navy later confirmed 22 injuries on board, with 19 receiving treatment in local hospitals.
Online videos captured the shocking moment as naval cadets, dressed in crisp white uniforms, were thrown against the ship's structures, but none fell into the East River. A police official attributed the accident to a possible mechanical failure, though details remain under investigation.
Bystanders near the South Street Seaport watched in terror as the massive vessel clipped the bridge and veered toward the dock. Despite the impact, early inspections found no significant damage to the bridge itself, and traffic resumed in both directions after safety checks.
Mexico's foreign ministry said its ambassador and embassy staff are assisting the affected cadets and coordinating with local authorities. Built in 1981 at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, the Cuauhtémoc was co-hosted in New York by the South Street Seaport Museum and was set to continue its world tour to Iceland.
This unexpected collision has sparked questions about maritime safety protocols and infrastructure challenges in busy urban waterways. Investigators from the Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are now reviewing navigation records and mechanical reports to determine the root cause.
Reference(s):
Mexican Navy tall ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, killing 2
cgtn.com
