Brooklyn Bridge Incident: Mexican Navy Training Ship Collision

Approximately 20 individuals sustained injuries when a Mexican Navy training vessel, carrying 277 people, collided with the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday night, according to officials.

The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. when the ship lost power while the captain was maneuvering, causing it to drift towards one of the bridge’s pillars. This resulted in the ship’s mast striking the bridge, as detailed by New York Police Department Chief Wilson Aramboles at a news conference on Saturday.

Footage captured the moment the Cuauhtémoc’s mast hit and broke against the bridge’s underside, showering debris onto the deck below. Despite the dramatic clash, no visible damage was reported on the bridge itself, which resumed normal traffic operations after a temporary closure.

Some sailors on the ship’s mast were injured during the collision, Aramboles confirmed.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams reported that 19 people were injured, with four injuries being serious. Meanwhile, the Mexican Navy stated on X that 22 people were injured, with 19 needing medical care at nearby hospitals.

“The condition of both personnel and materials is under assessment by naval and local authorities, who are providing assistance,” mentioned the Mexican Navy.

This incident occurred during a scheduled annual training cruise, according to Mexican Navy spokesperson Capt. Juan Caballero.

After the incident, all lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge were briefly closed in both directions but reopened by 10:30 p.m., as noted by New York emergency officials.

City spokesperson Fabien Levy stated, “While inspections are ongoing, there are, at present, no indications of structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge.”

The NYPD advised residents to steer clear of the Brooklyn Bridge area, South Street Seaport in Manhattan, and Dumbo in Brooklyn, noting, “Expect heavy traffic and a considerable presence of emergency services in the vicinity,” as shared on X.

Note: This is an evolving story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Reporting contributions by CNN’s Mark Morales.