A Mexican navy sailing ship collided with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday during a promotional tour in New York City. The incident occurred as the ship sailed through the East River, with the top of its mast brushing against the bridge. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the accident resulted in injuries to 19 individuals, four of whom sustained serious injuries.
Eyewitness videos captured the dramatic moment when three masts of the ship snapped and partially collapsed upon crashing into the bridge's deck. These videos also highlighted the heavy traffic on the bridge at the time of the collision, as onlookers watched in disbelief. The vessel, flying a large green, white, and red Mexican flag, subsequently drifted toward the river's edge, causing chaos as people scrambled away from the shoreline.
The Mexican navy later confirmed in a post on the social media platform X that the *Cuauhtémoc*, an academy training vessel, suffered damages from the accident with the Brooklyn Bridge, which halted its voyage. The navy stated that the status of personnel and the ship's condition were currently under review by both naval and local authorities, who are providing necessary assistance.
The statement from the navy emphasized its commitment to the safety of its personnel, assuring transparency in its operations and a high standard of training for future officers of the Mexican Armada.
Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz, who were enjoying the sunset when the incident occurred, recounted their experience to the Associated Press. They witnessed the vessel strike the bridge and saw one of its masts snap. Upon closer inspection, they noticed someone dangling precariously from the ship. “We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,” Katz recalled.
The duo also reported seeing two individuals being removed from the ship on stretchers and transported onto smaller boats for medical assistance.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, features a main span of nearly 1,600 feet (490 meters) supported by two masonry towers. It remains a vital transportation link, with over 100,000 vehicles and approximately 32,000 pedestrians crossing it daily, as reported by the city’s transportation department. The bridge’s walkway is also a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the globe.
The *Cuauhtémoc*, measuring about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide (90.5 meters long and 12 meters wide), first set sail in 1982. Each year, it embarks on a journey at the end of classes at the naval military school, providing essential training for cadets. This year, the ship departed from the Mexican port of Acapulco on April 6, carrying 277 people onboard. The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 nations, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York City. Its itinerary also included stops in Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo, and Dunkirk in France; and Aberdeen, Scotland, totaling 254 days at sea, with 170 days spent sailing and 84 days in port.
