New York City officials, alongside federal investigators, are meticulously examining the scene where a Mexican Navy training vessel struck the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday, an incident that claimed two lives and injured at least 19 individuals. The collision, involving the historic tall ship Cuauhtémoc, has prompted a binational inquiry to determine the cause of the fatal maritime accident.
Preliminary findings from law enforcement indicate the vessel experienced a complete power failure moments before impact. Video footage reviewed by authorities captured the ship’s three towering masts collapsing as bystanders along the East River shoreline watched in alarm. Despite the severity of the crash, engineers confirmed the bridge’s structural integrity remained intact, allowing traffic to resume shortly after midnight.
According to the New York Department of Transportation, the Cuauhtémoc’s central mast measured 48.2 meters (158 feet)—exceeding the bridge’s 41.1-meter (135-foot) clearance at its midpoint. First responders evacuated 27 individuals from the vessel for medical treatment, while New York Fire Department officials confirmed all 277 crew members and trainees were safely accounted for. The ship, now docked at a nearby pier, sustained significant damage, including the total loss of its masts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed a team to assist local and federal agencies in the investigation, which is being coordinated with Mexican authorities. Mexico’s Navy Secretary, Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, pledged full cooperation, emphasizing in a statement that findings would be addressed with “total transparency and responsibility.”
The Cuauhtémoc departed Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6 as part of a global training voyage, with scheduled stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, where it was slated to participate in July’s Tall Ships Race. Questions now center on navigational protocols, mechanical failures, and how the vessel entered a restricted clearance zone.
Further updates are expected as investigators analyze onboard data recorders, witness testimonies, and radar logs. The incident marks one of the most severe maritime accidents in New York Harbor in recent decades, underscoring challenges in managing historic tall ships amid modern urban infrastructure.
This is a developing story. Additional details will be reported as verified information becomes available.
