New York: At least 19 people sustained injuries after a Mexican Navy training ship with over 200 onboard crashed into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge, reports claimed. Visuals of the accident have gone viral on social media.
The towering masts of the Cuauhtémoc clipping the bridge as the sailing vessel was passing under the famous structure on Saturday evening can be seen in the footage.
Parts of the masts reportedly fell on vessel’s deck and some of the crew members were standing on the masts at the time of collision, reported the BBC. Local media reports claim that the ship lost power before the mishap. But, authorities said no one had fallen into the water. Brooklyn Bridge had not sustained any major damage either, officials told the BBC.
Tall ship belonging to the Mexican Navy ran into the Brooklyn Bridge tonight. Its masts collapsed, sending people into the water and launching a rescue mission.
Thank god the bridge held or it would have been a catastrophe. How did they not know how tall their masts were?? pic.twitter.com/360XJ1Ssn1
— ♀️Jennifer Gingrich ✡️ (@fem_mb) May 18, 2025
The ship lost the top of two masts. All personnel on the ship have been accounted for, the New York Coast Guard mentioned in a statement. The injured are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Watch Sailors Dangling From The Damaged Mast Here:
Sailors were spotted dangling from the Mexican Navy training ship after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge.
According to CNN, the ship lost power when the captain was maneuvering it, sending it toward the bridge.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says a total of 19 people were… pic.twitter.com/vQbbfjS1Ra
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 18, 2025
The New York Police Department’s chief of operations, as quoted by the BBC, blamed the mishap on “mechanical issues.” A power cut had caused the ship to collide with one of the pillars, he said.
Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries. pic.twitter.com/mlaCX0X8Mh
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 18, 2025
Meanwhile, New York police asked residents to avoid the area of Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport in Manhattan, and Dumbo in Brooklyn.
The vessel, which measures 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to the Mexican navy. It had sailed for the first time in 1982.
Each year it sets sail at the end of classes at the naval military school to wrap up the cadets’ training.
It had left the Mexican port of Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people aboard. Its destination was Iceland.
