A sailing Mexican Navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday, May 17, 2025, killing at least two people and injuring 19 others. The ship, ARM Cuauhtémoc, an academy training vessel, lost power in the East River, causing it to drift into the structure around 8:20 p.m.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “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.” The two individuals who died fell from the mast and were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
The ship snapped all three of its masts as it collided with the 142-year-old bridge, but Adams said the bridge was spared significant damage. Videos show the ship sailing underneath the bridge as the top of its three masts collide with the iconic structure, snapping and partially collapsing as they crash into the deck.
Eyewitnesses Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz described the scene: “We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for, like, at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them.” They saw two people removed from the ship on stretchers into smaller boats.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences, saying, “Our solidarity and support go out to their families.” The Mexican Navy and local authorities are investigating the cause of the collision, with the National Transportation Safety Board leading the inquiry. A mechanical issue may have caused the ship to collide with the bridge, officials said.
The Cuauhtémoc was built in Bilbao, Spain in 1981 and won the Tall Ships’ Races twice. It was visiting New York City for an event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.