Mexican Navy Ship Accident Under Brooklyn Bridge Claims Lives and Causes Injuries

A goodwill tour by a Mexican Navy sailing vessel turned tragic on Saturday night when the ship collided with the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge, causing significant damage to its masts and rigging and resulting in the deaths of two crew members.

At the moment of impact, 277 individuals were aboard the Cuauhtémoc. According to a New York Fire Department official, all on board have been accounted for. After midnight, Mayor Eric Adams shared via social media that two fatalities had been confirmed, noting the vessel experienced a power failure prior to the incident.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed via social media that the two deceased were part of the Cuauhtémoc’s crew. In the aftermath, at least 22 individuals sustained injuries; 11 of them are critically injured while the other 9 are stable, as outlined in a statement from the Mexican Navy.

Initially docked at Pier 17 in Manhattan beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, the ship was set to sail out of New York Harbor that evening, with a plan to refuel at the Brooklyn waterfront before heading to Iceland. However, around 8:30 p.m., the Cuauhtémoc appeared to unintentionally proceed toward the Brooklyn Bridge, never intending to navigate beneath it, an official from the city’s Office of Emergency Management reported.

Social media videos captured a tugboat in proximity to the Cuauhtémoc, showing the ship moving in reverse when the crash occurred. Despite the collision, the ship stopped without capsizing at Brooklyn Bridge Park, as witnessed in social media footage and images exhibiting its severely damaged masts.

During a press briefing on Saturday, authorities revealed that the harbor pilot responsible for guiding the Cuauhtémoc experienced ‘mechanical issues.’ The National Transportation Safety Board is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the accident.