US safety officials have initiated an investigation after a Mexican sailing ship collided with New York’s historic Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in the snapping of its masts and the tragic deaths of two crew members.
Footage of the incident revealed that several sailors were situated among the rigging of the navy vessel Cuauhtemoc at the time.
The ship’s 45m masts were too high to clear the bridge’s arch at that point, leading to their collapse as the vessel, named after the last Aztec emperor, navigated beneath.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that 277 individuals were aboard the vessel and that two people lost their lives due to their injuries, though he did not specify their locations on the ship.
The white-hulled vessel was docked today along the East River, its damaged masts contrasting with the vibrant decorations for its US departure.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on social media that it is “launching a go-team” for an initial investigation into the crash.
Watch: Mexican Navy tall ship collides with Brooklyn Bridge
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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her “deep sorrow” over the loss of the two crew members.
In a post on X, she mentioned that the Mexican ambassador to the United States and staff from the Mexican Consulate General in New York are providing support to the Navy.
The Mexican Navy indicated that no rescue operations were necessary as no one had fallen into the water.
Naval cadets in white uniforms were seen suspended from the ship’s crossbeams following the collision.
“No one fell into the water; they were all injured inside the ship,” a police official remarked.
The official suggested that mechanical issues likely caused the incident but did not elaborate further.
At one of the suspension bridge’s bases near New York City’s South Street Seaport, online videos captured bystanders fleeing in fear as the enormous vessel struck the bridge and veered toward the dock.
Completed in 1883, the bridge is a popular tourist destination and serves as a primary connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
It was once the largest suspension bridge in the world.
A New York City transportation official reported that the bridge suffered no substantial damage.
Traffic resumed in both directions after an initial inspection.
The ship’s masts were damaged during the incident.
Cuauhtémoc was constructed at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, in 1981, as noted by the South Street Seaport Museum, which mentioned on its website that it was co-hosting the vessel’s visit to New York, scheduled to conclude yesterday evening.
The public was encouraged to come aboard the ship during its stay.
According to the New York police official, the ship was departing from New York and heading to Iceland.
