Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge, Killing 2 Crew Members

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A Mexican Navy sailing vessel on a goodwill tour struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, shattering its masts and rigging and resulting in the deaths of two crew members.

The ship, Cuauhtémoc, had 277 people aboard at the time of the collision. According to the New York Fire Department, all passengers have been accounted for.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed via social media that two people died in the incident, noting that the ship had lost power before the crash. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also stated that the victims were crew members aboard the Cuauhtémoc.

Mexican Navy

The Mexican Navy reported that 22 others were injured in the crash—11 critically and nine in stable condition.

The ship had been docked at Pier 17 in Manhattan, just beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, and was scheduled to depart Saturday night. Moreover, its planned route included a brief stop along the Brooklyn waterfront to refuel before continuing to Iceland.

However, around 8:30 p.m., the Cuauhtémoc veered off course and was unintentionally headed toward the bridge, according to a spokesman from the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

Videos circulating on social media showed a tugboat near the vessel as it moved backward stern first before hitting the bridge. Witnesses reported hearing the snap as the top of a mast collided with the bridge’s underside.

At nearby Pier 16, emergency responders tended to the injured. South Street was lined with flashing emergency vehicles, and victims were seen being transported to ambulances on gurneys, many wearing neck braces. Finally, onlookers gathered along the waterfront, erupting in cheers and chants of “Mex-i-co! Mex-i-co!” as survivors emerged.