NEW YORK — A tragic maritime accident unfolded Saturday evening when a Mexican navy tall ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge, snapping all three of its masts and killing two crew members, New York City officials confirmed.
The sailing vessel, identified as the ARM Cuauhtémoc, was on a global goodwill tour when it collided with the bridge’s span around 8:20 p.m., sending metal and rigging crashing down and leaving some crew members dangling from harnesses high above the deck.
According to Mayor Eric Adams, the iconic 142-year-old bridge sustained no major structural damage. However, at least 19 people aboard the ship required medical treatment. Two of the four individuals critically injured later died, the mayor announced via social media early Sunday.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, though early reports indicate the ship may have lost power due to mechanical failure shortly after departing a Manhattan pier. A tugboat was reportedly near the Cuauhtémoc at the time of the incident, raising questions about why the vessel veered backward toward the bridge.
Dramatic footage shared by eyewitnesses showed the Cuauhtémoc traveling in reverse at high speed, its massive masts snapping one by one as it collided with the bridge. Videos showed the ship flying a giant Mexican flag as panicked onlookers and sailors reacted to the chaos.
“I heard what sounded like a big twig snapping,” said Nick Corso, who had been filming the sunset. “Suddenly, people were running, and I saw sailors dangling from the broken masts. It looked like something out of a movie.”
Witnesses Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz described seeing crew members suspended in the rigging for over 15 minutes before rescue teams arrived. “One man was just hanging there in a harness,” Katz said. “It was terrifying.”
Despite the chaos, no one from the bridge itself was reported injured. The bridge’s busy span, which sees over 100,000 vehicles and 32,000 pedestrians daily, was temporarily closed for inspection but reopened later in the night.
The Mexican navy, which operates the Cuauhtémoc as a training vessel for naval cadets, confirmed that 22 people had been injured in total, including the two who later died. The vessel, built in 1982, is nearly 297 feet long with a 160-foot main mast.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences on social media, calling the deaths a “profound loss” and offering solidarity to the victims’ families.
The Cuauhtémoc, which had just arrived in New York Harbor on May 13, was one stop on a 254-day global tour, scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 nations. It departed Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6 and had welcomed visitors aboard in New York just days earlier.
Following the accident, tugboats slowly moved the damaged ship north up the East River, safely passing under the Manhattan Bridge before docking at a nearby pier. Crowds gathered along the waterfront late into the night to witness the surreal aftermath.
According to NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles, the ship should have been heading out to sea, not toward the Brooklyn Bridge. Investigators are now working to determine whether a mechanical issue, navigational error, or other factor caused the deadly detour.
As inquiries continue, the Cuauhtémoc’s mission of international goodwill has been abruptly overshadowed by tragedy — a solemn reminder of the dangers inherent in maritime travel, even in the shadow of one of New York City’s most famous landmarks.
AP
