The Mexican Navy training ship, Cuauhtémoc, was left stuck after it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The Associated press
On Saturday evening, a Mexican Navy training ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The ship's three tall masts snapped when they struck the bridge, causing chaos and injury. Two crew members died, and many others were hurt. The ship was on a goodwill tour, visiting several countries.
What Happened
The ship, named Cuauhtemoc, was sailing near the Brooklyn side of the East River around 8:20 p.m. Witnesses saw it moving fast in reverse toward the bridge. Suddenly, the masts hit the bridge and broke one after another. The ship then drifted to a nearby pier.
Many people on the bridge saw the accident, but no one on the bridge got hurt. The ship had 277 people on board, including crew and cadets. After the crash, some sailors hung from harnesses high up on the broken masts, waiting for help.
Eyewitness Stories
Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz were watching the sunset nearby. They saw someone hanging from a harness on the mast for about 15 minutes before rescuers arrived. Another witness, Nick Corso, said he heard loud snapping sounds just before the accident and saw people running in panic.
Injuries and Rescue
Officials said 22 people on the ship got injured, with 19 needing medical care. Sadly, two seriously hurt crew members died. The Mexican Navy confirmed the ship was a training vessel for naval cadets.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her sorrow on social media. She sent support to the families of the crew members who lost their lives.
Bridge Safety and Damage
The Brooklyn Bridge is a historic structure built in 1883. It is almost 1,600 feet long and supports over 100,000 vehicles and about 32,000 pedestrians every day. After the accident, officials checked the bridge and allowed traffic to resume since no major damage was found.
Cause Under Investigation
The reason for the crash remains unclear. New York police said the ship had just left a pier in Manhattan and was supposed to head out to sea. Instead, it moved toward the bridge.
A preliminary report suggested the ship’s pilot lost power due to a mechanical problem. Videos show a tugboat was near the ship during the crash. Officials are still investigating the exact cause.
Ship Details and Tour
The Cuauhtemoc is a large sailing ship about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide. Its main mast is 160 feet tall. The ship first sailed in 1982 and serves to train Mexican naval cadets.
This year, the ship started a world tour on April 6 from Acapulco, Mexico. It reached New York on May 13, where the public could visit for several days. The tour plans to visit 22 ports in 15 countries over about 254 days, including 170 days at sea.
Moving Forward
By midnight, tugboats helped move the damaged ship up the East River to a pier near the Manhattan Bridge. Crowds gathered to watch the scene.
City officials and the Mexican Navy continue working to understand what went wrong. The focus remains on helping the injured and honoring the crew members who died.
