A Mexican Navy training ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, killing two crew members and injuring at least 22 people, after its masts collided with the underside of the iconic New York landmark.
The Cuauhtémoc, a tall sailing vessel festooned with decorative lights and flying a large Mexican flag, was attempting to pass under the bridge on the East River near the Brooklyn shore when its 45-metre-high masts failed to clear the bridge’s arch. As the ship sailed beneath, the masts were sheared off, sending parts of the rigging crashing down onto the deck.
Footage of the incident, widely shared online, showed the vessel approaching the bridge moments before the collision, as bystanders nearby began to panic and flee. The crash sent the ship veering towards the shoreline near Brooklyn Bridge Park.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that two people had died, and 17 others were injured. Mexico’s navy later reported that 22 individuals were hurt in total, with three in a serious condition and 19 receiving hospital treatment.
Officials confirmed that none of the 277 passengers on board fell into the water, and no diving operations were required.
According to President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, the victims included a female cadet and a male marine, both of whom died from their injuries. Two of the injured remained in critical condition on Sunday, according to the New York Police Department.
The Cuauhtémoc, named after the last Aztec emperor, was on a goodwill visit to New York and had been open to the public earlier in the day. The stop was part of a wider international tour, and the ship was scheduled to depart for Iceland following the event.
The South Street Seaport Museum, which co-hosted the visit, said the ship was constructed in 1981 at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain, and is commonly used for the training of Mexican naval cadets.
A spokesperson for New York City’s Department of Transportation confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge suffered no significant structural damage in the incident. After a preliminary inspection, vehicle traffic was reopened in both directions.
Initial assessments by the New York Police Department suggested mechanical failure may have been a factor, although no further details have been released. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the Mexican Navy have both launched formal investigations into the cause of the crash.
President Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico’s ambassador to the United States and consular staff were working closely with local authorities to support the injured and coordinate ongoing responses.
The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, is one of the oldest and most recognisable suspension bridges in the United States. It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn and remains a major transport link and tourist attraction.
What began as a ceremonial farewell turned into a maritime tragedy, one that is now the subject of international scrutiny.
