A Mexican Navy training vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, resulting in two fatalities and injuring 20 others.
The 297'x39'4" tall ship Cuauhtémoc, a three-masted sailing vessel used for training purposes, seemingly lost propulsion on the East River before its 147' masts failed to clear the bridge's arch near the Brooklyn side, causing the topmasts to snap on impact. The Brooklyn Bridge has a navigational clearance of 127'.
Footage posted on social media captured the dramatic moment as the ship approached the iconic span. Dressed in white uniforms, naval cadets harnessed to the rigging could be seen dangling in the aftermath of the collision.
In a statement, the Mexican Navy said late on Saturday night that 22 people aboard were injured, with 11 in serious condition and two fatalities. No one fell overboard.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed early Sunday that there were 277 people on board the vessel at the time of the incident.
Ship tracking data showed the Cuauhtémoc had come off berth from a Manhattan pier and seemingly lost propulsion before going stern-first into the bridge. The New York Police Department said the crash may have been caused by a mechanical issue, though no further details were provided.
The Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtemoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night, killing two crew members and injuring 22.
— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) May 18, 2025
According to reports, the 43-year-old vessel, carrying 277 crew, was en route from New York to Reykjavík, Iceland for a goodwill tour when she… pic.twitter.com/9Nn7JtOMiT
Tugboats, fireboats, police boats, and ferries responded to the incident.
New York City transportation officials said the bridge itself did not suffer major damage, and traffic resumed shortly after an initial inspection.
The Cuauhtémoc has been towed and is now docked at Pier 35 in Manhattan.
The ship had been visiting New York as part of a goodwill tour co-hosted by the South Street Seaport Museum, which noted the public had been invited aboard during its stay. The Cuauhtémoc, built in 1982 at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, was scheduled to depart for Iceland on Saturday evening.
The Cuauhtémoc set sail from Acapulco, Mexico, on April 4 for a 254-day voyage that was to include stops at 22 ports in 15 countries, according to the Mexican Navy.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said its diplomats in the U.S. are working closely with local authorities and supporting the affected crew members.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor. Our sympathy and support go out to their families,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a social media post early Sunday.
“We are monitoring the situation, and the Secretary of the Navy will continue to provide updates,” she added.
