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Cuauhtémoc Brooklyn Bridge collision

Coordinates: 40°42′16″N 73°59′42″W / 40.70444°N 73.99500°W / 40.70444; -73.99500
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Cuauhtémoc Brooklyn Bridge collision
ARM Cuauhtémoc during the collision with the Brooklyn Bridge; the main-mast's tip was visibly snapping at the time this screenshot was taken.
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110m
120yds
1
DateMay 17, 2025 (2025-05-17)
Time8:24 p.m. (EDT)
LocationBrooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, United States
Coordinates40°42′16″N 73°59′42″W / 40.70444°N 73.99500°W / 40.70444; -73.99500
CauseCollision with bridge structure following power loss
ParticipantsMexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc
OutcomeMast collapse, multiple injuries and deaths
Deaths2[1][2]
Non-fatal injuries25 injured (two critical)[3]
Property damageDamage to ship masts, no damage to bridge
InquiriesPending

On May 17, 2025, the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc struck the Brooklyn Bridge while departing New York City. The ship's masts collided with the underside of the bridge, at around the height of her topgallant sails, causing the loss of her topmasts and resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries of people aboard the vessel.[4][5]

Background

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ARM Cuauhtémoc, the Mexican Navy ship involved in collision, seen on 26 August 2012.

Cuauhtémoc is a sail training vessel of the Mexican Navy, often used on international goodwill tours. According to the Maritimes Museum, Cuauhtémoc, originally named Celaya, was designed in 1981 as part of a series of sister ships that would be used by various Ibero-American navies before sailing for the first time from Spain to Mexico in July 1982.[6][7]

The ship's training cruise, titled the "Consolidation of Mexican Independence 2025," marked the celebration of the expulsion of the final Spanish stronghold at San Juan de Ulúa from Mexican territory in 1825 by the Mexican Navy under the command of Pedro Sainz de Baranda.[8]

On April 4, 2025, Cuauhtémoc departed from Acapulco.[9] It was then docked at South Street Seaport as the third stop of its planned eight-month trip from May 13 to 17 of that year, which was also a part of a routine visit.[10][11] At the time of the incident, Cuauhtémoc was on a training cruise, which takes place annually and was scheduled to visit again for America's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.[12][13] The ship has a listed height of 44.81 metres (147.0 ft).[14]

The Brooklyn Bridge, a suspension bridge completed in 1883, spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City. Its vertical clearance is 127 feet (39 m).[15]

The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations over the course of 170 days.[16][17]

Incident

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The collision took place at approximately 8:26 p.m. on May 17, when Cuauhtémoc was reversing out of dock into the river from South Street Seaport. For unknown reasons, the ship was not able to maneuver correctly in the water currents and northeast wind, and travelled backwards under the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, crashing into the span. Wilson Aramboles, the New York Police Department's Special Operations Chief, said that Cuauhtémoc was intended to head out to sea, but ended up traveling in the wrong direction and instead moved toward the Brooklyn Bridge.[4] Just before the collision, the ship was seen moving quickly in reverse.[7]

Videos show the ship's three masts impacting the bridge one by one and breaking off, at around the height of her topgallant sails, and the ship continuing on and scraping along the waterfront revetment.[18] There were 227 people on board at the time.[19][20] The impact caused significant damage to the ship's masts, the deaths of two crew members, and injuries to multiple other crew members, three of whom were reported in critical condition. Additionally, several sailors were spotted hanging onto the damaged masts, though none fell into the river.[1][2][12][4] The two fatalities were identified as cadets from Veracruz and Oaxaca states respectively. One of them was standing on top of the rigging at the time of the collision.[21]

Emergency response

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Emergency responders, including units from the FDNY, NYPD Harbor Unit, and United States Coast Guard, arrived shortly after the collision. The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities.[4][5]

Aftermath

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Immediately after the collision, the vessel was held at dock while the Mexican Navy, in coordination with U.S. authorities, assessed the damage. The Mexican Secretariat of the Navy issued a public statement confirming the collision and promising transparency during the ongoing review.[22] The Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major structural damage, though all lanes on both sides were briefly closed before reopening at 10:30 p.m. The New York City Department of Transportation did not issue specific statements on the bridge's status, but routine maintenance closures were scheduled shortly after the incident.[23] According to a spokesperson, New York City mayor Eric Adams was briefed on the collision and was expected to travel to the incident.[needs update][citation needed]

Investigation

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The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident. The Mexican Navy said it would conduct an internal inquiry.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "2 dead, more than a dozen injured after Mexican naval training ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge". www.nbcnewyork.com. May 18, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Adams, Eric [@NYCMayor] (May 18, 2025). "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" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ @FDNY (May 18, 2025). "At approximately 8:20 Saturday night, the FDNY received a call that a boat struck the Brooklyn Bridge. There were 277 people on the boat. 27 people were removed for treatment. …" (Tweet). Retrieved May 18, 2025 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b c d Brown, Ruth; Viterbo, Kyle Marian (May 17, 2025). "Mexican tall ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge, snapping masts and killing 2 crew members". Associated Press. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Dienst, Jonathan; Colorado, Melissa (May 17, 2025). "Mexican Navy Tall Ship Collides With Brooklyn Bridge". NBC New York. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  6. ^ McCormack, Caitlin (May 18, 2025). "NYC Brooklyn Bridge crash Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc was on annual journey for cadet training". Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Marsden, Emma (May 18, 2025). "What is the "Cuauhtémoc?" Mexican Navy ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge". Newsweek. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  8. ^ McCormack, Caitlin (May 18, 2025). "NYC Brooklyn Bridge crash Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc was on annual journey for cadet training". Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  9. ^ Secretaría de Marina. "Zarpa el Buque Escuela "Cuauhtémoc" para iniciar el Crucero de Instrucción "Consolidación de la Independencia de México 2025"". gob.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Mexican Navy Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc Collides with Brooklyn Bridge". MarineLink. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  11. ^ Brunner, Raven (May 18, 2025). "Ship That Hit Brooklyn Bridge Was on Annual Transcontinental Journey to Mark Completion of Cadet Training". People.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Salahieh, Nouran; Watson, Michelle; Torres, Mauricio (May 18, 2025). "20 injured after Mexican Navy training ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge, source says". CNN. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Donlevy, Katherine (May 13, 2025). "Exclusive | Mexican tall ship docks in NYC in sneak peek of 2026's Sail4th celebration of America's 250th". Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "ARM Cuauhtemoc". sailtraininginternational.org. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "Hudson and East Rivers" (PDF). NOAA.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2015 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "Mexican navy ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge leaving two people dead". The Guardian. Associated Press. May 18, 2025. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  17. ^ Blasey, Laura (May 18, 2025). "US officials investigating fatal Mexican Navy ship crash". BBC News. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  18. ^ "Mexican Navy Ship's Mast Strikes Brooklyn Bridge in NYC — and Reportedly Leaves Multiple Injured". People. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  19. ^ Rice, Nicholas (May 17, 2025). "Multiple People Injured After Ship Carrying Over 200 Hits the Brooklyn Bridge, Search and Rescue Operation Now Underway". People.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  20. ^ Lukiv, Jaroslav; Comerford, Ruth; Ghildial, Pratiksha. "Two dead as Mexican Navy ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge". BBC. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  21. ^ Buschschlüter, Vanessa. "Mexico mourns Navy cadets killed in Brooklyn Bridge ship crash". BBC. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  22. ^ Marina, Secretaría de. "La Secretaría de Marina informa sobre los hechos ocurridos con el Buque Escuela Velero "Cuauhtémoc"". gob.mx (in Spanish).
  23. ^ "Brooklyn Bridge Lane Closures May 19–22". NYC DOT. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  24. ^ Saldaña, Iván Evair; Arellano, César (May 18, 2025). "Garantiza la Marina "total transparencia" en investigación por choque del buque escuela". La Jornada (in Spanish).
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