Horrifying crash: 2 dead, 17 injured as navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge

What began as a celebratory farewell for a majestic Mexican navy tall ship turned into a horrifying maritime disaster late night (Saturday), as the Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, shearing off its towering masts and leaving two dead and 17 injured, including two in critical condition.

The 270-foot vessel, part of a goodwill mission from Mexico, had just set sail from New York City en route to Iceland when it apparently lost power around 8:30 p.m., causing the current to carry it straight into the underside of the historic bridge. With a clearance of just 135 feet, the 147-foot masts of the Cuauhtémoc slammed into the bridge deck, crumpling with a thunderous crash.

In a scene captured on multiple phones by stunned onlookers, the masts collapsed one by one, sending crew members, many of them young cadets from a crew of 277, dangling precariously from rigging and booms. Some appeared to fall. “The boat was coming under the bridge, and there were sailors on top,” recalled Elijah West, who witnessed the crash from Brooklyn Bridge Park. “The sails hit the bridge, then people were falling off. It was crazy.”

Panicked screams erupted from the crowd. “We were scared, a lot of people were screaming, a lot of people were crying,” said Ismari Romero, 43, who had come to Pier 17 to watch the ship’s ceremonial departure with her sister. “We were all joyful … then they reached the Brooklyn Bridge.”

Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the vessel had lost power before the collision. Fire and police boats responded within minutes, steering the crippled ship toward the Manhattan Bridge as rescue efforts began. First responders scoured the water for reports of people overboard, though none were ultimately found in the river.

Aya Asan, a photographer from Crown Heights, had just finished a proposal shoot when she saw the masts collapse. “Everyone started running,” she said. “For a moment, I thought the boat might crash into the park area. It was terrifying. People were hanging from the sails.”

The U.S. Coast Guard and NYPD Harbor Unit are now investigating the incident. The ship, often called the “Ambassador and Gentleman of the Seas,” is a frequent visitor to ports around the world as part of diplomatic and training missions. Saturday’s tragic crash has now turned that legacy into a moment of mourning and deep concern.