Mexican Navy tall ship crashes into Brooklyn bridge, killing 2

By Admin

19 May, 2025

In a tragic maritime accident that shook New York City, a Mexican Navy tall ship named Cuauhtémoc crashed into the iconic Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuring 17 others. The incident occurred as the historic training vessel attempted to pass under the bridge with its towering 147-foot (45-meter) masts illuminated and adorned with the Mexican flag.

The ship, named after the last Aztec emperor, was on its way out of New York, en route to Iceland, when it collided with the landmark bridge that spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Videos circulating online captured the dramatic moment when the ship's masts, too tall for the bridge's clearance, struck the structure, shearing off the top and causing chaos aboard.

According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, two of the 277 people aboard the vessel were killed in the collision. Seventeen others were injured, with two remaining in critical condition as of early Sunday. The Mexican Navy reported that 22 people were injured in total, with 19 receiving treatment in local hospitals and three suffering serious injuries.

“No one fell into the water; they were all hurt inside the ship,” a police official confirmed. Eyewitness videos showed naval cadets dressed in traditional white uniforms clinging to the crossbeams moments after the impact. Mechanical issues are suspected to have contributed to the accident, though detailed causes have yet to be confirmed.

The ship was a centerpiece of public engagement during its visit to New York. Co-hosted by the South Street Seaport Museum, visitors were invited aboard to explore the vessel, which was built in 1981 at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain.

Despite the dramatic impact, the Brooklyn Bridge itself did not sustain major damage. Traffic was briefly halted but later resumed in both directions following a preliminary inspection by New York City transportation officials.

The Mexican foreign ministry expressed condolences and stated that Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. and other diplomats were in touch with local authorities and providing support to the affected naval cadets.

As the city mourns the lives lost, questions loom about how such a significant navigational error could occur under the watch of trained professionals. Investigations are ongoing, and the international maritime community watches closely for answers.