Mexico is in mourning after two young Navy cadets, América Sánchez and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, lost their lives when the training tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday. The incident occurred when the ship’s three masts snapped after hitting the bridge, resulting in the deaths of the two cadets and injuring 22 others, with three in critical condition.
Tributes to the Cadets
América Sánchez, 20, was described by her mother, Rocío Hernández, as “an exemplary daughter” and “a dedicated student” who aimed to become a naval engineer. Hernández paid tribute to her daughter, saying, “She was a warrior, a soldier who didn’t give up, who always fought for her goals.” Sánchez had only one year left until her graduation. A private ceremony will be held in her honor at the Veracruz Naval Academy.
Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23, had always dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a sailor. His friends recalled that being on board the Cuauhtémoc was his greatest wish. “The sea saw him being born and the sea was a witness to his passing,” a friend said, adding that “all of us who knew him will remember him as a role model of an intelligent youth”.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with New York police officials suggesting that the Cuauhtémoc lost power and was dragged towards the bridge by the current. Mexico’s Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles promised “total transparency and responsibility” in the investigation. The Mexican Navy will bring the bodies of the cadets back home and support their families.
The Cuauhtémoc had left Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6 for a tour that included stops in New York and Aberdeen, Scotland, for the city’s Tall Ships race in July. The ship had 277 crew members on board, and the incident has left the nation in shock and grief.