A Mexican navy sailing ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday in a dramatic accident that injured 22 crew members, according to officials and eyewitnesses.
Dramatic Collision Caught on Video
Multiple videos circulating on social media show the top of the ship’s three masts violently striking the iconic Brooklyn Bridge while sailing through New York’s East River. The impact caused part of the masts to snap and partially collapse onto the bridge deck. In one of the videos, people can be seen clinging to the masts amidst the chaos.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Terrible 😯
A Mexican navy sailing ship with over 200 aboard hits Brooklyn Bridge, New York Fire Department says authorities are responding to injuries. pic.twitter.com/DlHdEwzjgc— Tulsi For President🌺 (@TulsiPotus) May 18, 2025
A witness told The Associated Press, “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.”
Details About the Ship and Injuries
The Mexican navy confirmed that the vessel involved was the Cuauhtemoc, a 297-foot-long and 40-foot-wide academy training ship. The navy stated that the ship sustained damage during the collision, preventing it from continuing its scheduled voyage.
The navy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account reported that 22 crew members were injured, with three suffering serious injuries. It assured the public that “The Secretary of the Navy renews its commitment to the safety of personnel, transparency in its operations and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Armada.”
Ship’s Scheduled Voyage and Background
The Cuauhtemoc typically embarks each year after naval academy classes conclude to complete cadet training. This year, the ship left Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people onboard, intending to visit 22 ports across 15 countries.
Among its planned stops were Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York. The voyage was to cover 254 days, including 170 days at sea, with additional destinations in Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo, and Dunkirk, France; as well as Aberdeen, Scotland.
The incident has shocked many, with social media users commenting on the striking visuals of the ship flying a massive Mexican flag and blaring Mexican music just before the crash.
