A catastrophic collision on Saturday night left two sailors dead and multiple others injured when a Mexican naval training vessel crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. The ARM Cuauhtémoc, in New York on a goodwill visit, struck the bridge at approximately 8:26 p.m. when it lost power shortly after departing Pier 17.
“I heard what sounded like a big twig breaking,” said Nick Corso, 23, who witnessed the moment the ship’s three masts snapped upon impact with the bridge underside.
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Ship Lost Control Minutes After Leaving Dock
The trouble began just after 8:20 p.m. when the ARM Cuauhtémoc left its berth at South Street Seaport. The 297-foot sailing vessel had been docked in New York since May 13, offering public tours as part of its international training cruise.
NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles confirmed the vessel experienced mechanical failure immediately after departure. “The ship lost power and steering,” Aramboles told reporters at a late-night press conference. “It was never supposed to go toward the bridge.”
With 277 people aboard, including 147 naval cadets, the ship had almost no time to recover. The strong East River flood tide quickly pushed the powerless vessel toward the Brooklyn Bridge, located roughly 1/8 mile (about 200 meters) from Pier 17.
Multiple videos captured the moment the ship’s three masts, which stand between 147 and 160 feet tall, struck the underside of the bridge span, which has a clearance of only 127 feet (135 feet at center). The impact sheared off all three masts.
“We saw sailors dangling from the rigging,” said Sydney Neidell, who witnessed the aftermath. “Someone was hanging from a harness from the top for at least 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them.”
Two Dead, Multiple Injuries
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed two deaths from the accident. “Nineteen people needed medical treatment, two remained in critical condition, and two more sadly passed away from their injuries,” Adams posted on social media early Sunday.
The Mexican Navy later issued an updated statement reporting 22 total crew members injured, including 11 in critical condition.
The most severely injured were sailors positioned high on the masts when they struck the bridge. Though the impact threw several crew members from their positions, FDNY officials confirmed no one fell into the water. Divers searched the area as a precaution.
“We knew immediately we had a serious incident with a boat striking the bridge,” said FDNY Chief of Training Michael Meyers, who directed emergency responders to the vessel.
Injured sailors were evacuated to Bellevue Hospital. Bystanders reported cheering as rescuers carefully brought injured crew members to safety on stretchers.
Mexico’s Floating Ambassador
The ARM Cuauhtémoc isn’t just any training vessel. Built in Spain in 1982, the steel-hulled barque serves as Mexico’s “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” according to the Mexican Navy’s official description.
With its distinctive three-mast configuration and capacity to carry 23,000 square feet of sail, the ship has won the prestigious Tall Ships’ Races twice and trained over 30 generations of Mexican naval officers in traditional seafaring skills.
The ship was in the middle of its ambitious “Consolidation of the Independence of Mexico 2025” training cruise when the accident happened. The journey began April 6 in Acapulco and was scheduled to visit 22 ports across 15 nations over 254 days, with Iceland as its next destination after New York.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed deep sadness over the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor. Our sympathy and support go out to their families,” Sheinbaum wrote on social media platform X.
Why It Happened: Multiple Failures
Several factors contributed to this tragedy, according to preliminary reports and witness accounts:
First, the vessel lost propulsion and steering control. Captain José Manuel Carbajal reportedly told investigators the rudder stopped working, according to a senior city official with knowledge of the investigation. With no way to maneuver, the ship became completely vulnerable to environmental forces.
Second, the East River’s powerful current during flood tide pushed the powerless vessel directly toward the bridge. The current runs northward from the vicinity of Pier 17 toward the Brooklyn Bridge during rising tide, which was in effect at the time of the accident.
Third, the extremely short distance between the departure point and the bridge left almost no reaction time. Once control was lost, collision became virtually inevitable given the ship’s tall masts and the bridge’s limited clearance.
Questions also surround the role of the tugboat Charles D. McAllister, which appears in video footage near the Cuauhtémoc at the time of the crash. Investigators will examine whether the tug was actively assisting the vessel or merely escorting it, and if it could have prevented the collision.
Massive Emergency Response
The accident triggered a coordinated emergency response involving multiple city agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The FDNY established dual command posts on both sides of the East River. Marine units transported specialized rescue teams (Rescue 2 and Rescue 4) directly to the vessel. EMS personnel were also brought aboard to treat the most seriously injured.
“Once the marine units arrived on scene, we knew immediately that we had a serious incident,” said FDNY Chief Meyers.
The U.S. Coast Guard temporarily suspended commercial ship traffic between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and established a 50-yard safety zone around the damaged vessel.
Later that night, tugboats carefully moved the crippled sailing ship up the East River, past the Manhattan Bridge, to Pier 35/36 on the Lower East Side, where it remains under NYPD guard.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead on the investigation, dispatching a “go team” to New York. The team will analyze the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), which functions as the ship’s “black box,” capturing critical information like bridge audio, vessel speed, heading, rudder angles, and engine commands.
CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo noted that the VDR would provide crucial details about the ship’s mechanics and exactly when power was lost.
The investigation will likely focus on:
- The specific mechanical failure that led to the loss of control
- Pre-departure maintenance and inspection records
- The adequacy of the passage plan considering the vessel’s air draft limitations
- The effectiveness of tug assistance
- Bridge resource management during the emergency
- Communication among the crew and with external entities like Vessel Traffic Service
Historic Bridge Undamaged
Despite the violent collision, the Brooklyn Bridge itself escaped structural damage. After thorough inspection by NYC Department of Transportation engineers, traffic resumed by 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
“NYC DOT bridge inspectors have been on site since this evening’s boat crash. While inspections will remain ongoing, there are no signs of structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge,” the agency posted on social media.
This isn’t the first time vessels have struck the Brooklyn Bridge in its 142-year history. Historical records show the schooner Edward J. Lawrence hit the bridge in 1921, the German freighter Tirpitz struck it in 1935, and a South Korean cargo ship grazed the underside in 1986.
A Johns Hopkins University study following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore found that major ship collisions with bridges aren’t rare events and could be expected every few years, with several U.S. bridges having calculable risk of collision within decades.
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What Happens Next
The ARM Cuauhtémoc remains docked at Pier 35/36 while investigators examine the vessel. The Mexican Navy confirmed the ship cannot continue its planned cruise due to the extensive damage to all three masts.
City officials are now working with Mexican authorities to arrange transportation home for the crew members and cadets.
The accident could impact next year’s planned Sail4th 250 celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. A spokesperson confirmed the Cuauhtémoc had been expected to join the parade of international tall ships on July 4, 2026.
As maritime safety officials continue their investigation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong at sea, even in the protected waters of a harbor. The combination of mechanical failure, environmental conditions, and the physical constraints of urban waterways proved deadly in this case.
For the families of the two sailors lost and the many injured, what began as a prestigious training mission ended in tragedy beneath one of America’s most iconic bridges.
Common Questions About the Brooklyn Bridge Ship Crash
Could the tugboat have prevented the accident?
This remains under investigation. The tugboat Charles D. McAllister was near the Cuauhtémoc when the incident occurred, but its exact role is unclear. Investigators will determine if it was properly positioned to assist and whether it had sufficient power to counteract the river current pushing a 1,800-ton sailing ship.
How common are ship collisions with bridges?
U.S. Coast Guard records show hundreds of instances of vessels striking bridge components since 2019. The East River’s strong currents, narrow channels, and multiple bridges make navigation particularly challenging. This collision is the most serious to affect the Brooklyn Bridge in recent memory.
What was the ARM Cuauhtémoc doing in New York?
The ship was midway through its annual training cruise, which departed Acapulco on April 6. It arrived in New York on May 13 for a scheduled five-day goodwill visit, offering public tours at Pier 17. The ship was heading to Iceland when the accident occurred.
Why was a ship with such tall masts trying to pass under the Brooklyn Bridge?
It wasn’t supposed to. According to NYPD Chief Aramboles, the ship planned to head out to open water, not toward the bridge. The mechanical failure and resulting loss of control, combined with the river current, pushed the vessel into a path it never intended to take.
Will there be diplomatic repercussions?
While the incident involves a foreign military vessel, both U.S. and Mexican officials have emphasized cooperation. The focus remains on caring for the injured, supporting the families of those lost, and determining the cause of the accident rather than on diplomatic concerns.
What safety improvements might prevent similar accidents?
Maritime safety experts suggest several potential improvements: enhanced mechanical redundancy for vessels operating in confined waters, stricter pre-departure testing protocols, better tug escort requirements for vessels with significant air draft, and possibly designating berths for tall ships further from low-clearance bridges.
