Two Dead, More Than a Dozen Injured After Ship Strikes Brooklyn Bridge

Two people have died, and 21 others were hurt when a historic Mexican naval training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, May 17, 2025. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the Cuauhtémoc suffered a mechanical malfunction that caused it to go off course and hit the bridge, snapping the ship’s three masts.

Of the 277 people aboard, 22 were injured. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mayor Adams stated that two of the injured people were in critical condition, and two others had “sadly passed away from their injuries.” Since then, those numbers have climbed to 11 in critical condition and another 9 in stable condition, according to the Mexican Navy.

Footage captured at the scene showed the ship’s illuminated masts striking the bridge as darkness fell, with crew members clinging to the rigging. Another video recorded earlier showed approximately 80 people on the masts, appearing to be secured with harnesses. The Coast Guard later confirmed that all three of the ship’s masts were destroyed in the accident.

Witnesses told NBC New York that the vessel seemed to be hosting a lively event with music and a celebratory atmosphere. According to the Mexican Navy, the Cuauhtémoc departed from Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6 as part of a mission aimed at “honoring maritime tradition, advancing naval training, and sharing the Mexican people’s message of peace and goodwill with ports and nations around the world.”

According to Sail Training International, the vessel was originally built in 1981 in Bilbao, Spain, and named Celaya. It was later acquired by the Mexican Navy for use in training officers, cadets, and crew. The ship spent over a decade traveling the world before undergoing a major refurbishment in 1995.

After the collision, medics could be seen transporting some of the injured on stretchers. Onlookers along the waterfront reportedly shouted chants of “Mexico! Mexico!”

The Cause of the Collision Remains Under Investigation

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and Mexican authorities is underway, but the cause of the crash is still unclear. The vessel left Pier 17 in Manhattan a little before 8:30 p.m., but instead of heading south out of New York Harbor, the ship sailed in the wrong direction—directly under the Brooklyn Bridge. According to a New York emergency management office spokesperson, the vessel was never supposed to go under the bridge.

The role of a tugboat spotted at the scene has been disputed. According to McAllister Towing, a New York-based maritime towing, transport, and docking company, one of its tugboats “assisted the Cuauhtémoc as it departed Pier 17.” However, Senator Chuck Schumer argued that “The vessel did not use a tugboat’s assistance. The [tugboat] pictured widely in posted videos was responding after the fact, not assisting before. Usually, very often, there is a tugboat before to help them get out, especially on a sailing ship.”

After the crash, inspectors were sent to the site immediately to assess any structural damage to the Brooklyn Bridge, officials said. Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation, reported that initial evaluations by the bridge division found no significant structural harm. Mayor Adams confirmed the bridge remained open to traffic.

The Fate of the Cuauhtémoc Is Yet to Be Determined

The historic vessel was headed on a 254-day journey when the crash occurred. After planned stops in New York City; Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Aberdeen, Scotland; Avilés, Spain; Bridgetown, Barbados; and London, UK, the ship was ultimately headed to Reykjavik, Iceland. Now, it remains docked at Pier 36 in the East River.

An official with the Mexican Navy said that the fate of the ship was not yet known. The vessel will undergo a thorough inspection process, followed by a technical report, which will determine when and whether it will sail again. Adm. Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, the commander of the Mexican Navy, released a statement announcing that an investigation into the cause of the incident would be undertaken “with total transparency and responsibility.” The uninjured cadets are expected to continue training.

The day after the crash, Maria Mejia organized a small vigil at the pier. Attendants placed bouquets of flowers and votive candles on the ground and hung a small image of the Virgin Mary and rosaries on the fence nearby. Tributes have also poured in on social media.

At Arnold & Itkin, our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

Reports Show U.S. Bridges Are Highly Vulnerable to Vessel Collisions

On average, there are more than 250 minor vessel-bridge collisions across the United States each year, according to a report from PIANC: The World Association for Waterborne Transit Infrastructure. While many of these incidents lead to no damage or minimal damage to both the vessels and bridges involved, a not insignificant number result in tragedy.

Notably, the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that occurred on March 26, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland, resulted in six construction worker deaths and an estimated $1.7 to $1.9 billion dollars in damage. And, according to a report from USA Today, collisions between barges, ships, and other vessels are not as uncommon as previously thought. Between 1960 and 2015, vessel collisions caused almost three dozen bridge collapses, along with 342 fatalities.

Mechanical failures, like what is being reported with the Cuauhtémoc, are common causes of vessel-bridge collisions. Often, these failures are the result of preventable acts of negligence, from inadequate maintenance to manufacturing defects. When this is the case, those responsible must be held accountable. No matter what.