A tragic maritime accident unfolded on New York City’s East River this past Saturday evening, when the Mexican Navy’s training vessel Cuauhtémoc struck the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in two fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident occurred just before 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, as the ship departed Manhattan en route to Iceland.
According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, 277 individuals were aboard the vessel when the collision occurred. Nineteen people were injured, with four sustaining critical injuries. Two of those individuals later died, the mayor confirmed in a press conference.
“No one fell into the water,” stated NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles. “All injuries happened inside the ship.” Videos on social media showed the ship’s towering mast snapping as it made contact with the bridge’s underside, prompting immediate panic among onlookers and crew.
The Cuauhtémoc, a barque with more than two decades of active service, had departed from Cozumel, Mexico, as part of a transatlantic training voyage. Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, confirmed the vessel was headed toward Iceland when the collision occurred.
Initial New York City Department of Transportation assessments reported no visible structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge. However, authorities closed the area temporarily to ensure public safety and conduct thorough inspections. The bridge has since reopened to vehicular traffic.
Witnesses dining nearby described the impact as a deafening wooden crunch followed by screams from the crew. “Our hearts skipped a beat,” said Torrey Leonard, a bystander who observed the scene from a waterfront restaurant.
Mayor Adams later revealed that the ship had lost power shortly before the crash. The pilot guiding the vessel out of the harbor reportedly encountered mechanical issues, although further investigations are underway.
The incident has sparked conversations about maritime safety protocols in busy urban waterways and raised questions about emergency preparedness for foreign vessels operating near key infrastructure.
As New York begins to recover from the shock, U.S. and Mexican officials are cooperating to ensure a full investigation and to support the affected families.