A Mexican Navy training ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two crew members and injuring 20 others. Just before 8:30 p.m., the 297-foot Cuauhtémoc, carrying 277 sailors, smashed into the bridge near the Brooklyn Bridge Park, snapping its three masts and leaving crew members dangling in the air. According to the New York City Department of Transportation, the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge was not damaged in the collision.
The Cuauhtémoc was headed south toward the Brooklyn waterfront to refuel when the captain reported a mechanical failure, and the ship lost power. Without power, the crew was unable to steer the vessel, and currents caused it to drift north, out of control, and into the bridge.
The New York Police Department Harbor Unit and SCUBA were among the first on the scene. More than 100 fire and emergency medical service personnel responded to treat and transport the injured to area hospitals. The bridge was closed in both directions for approximately 40 minutes after the collision. According to authorities, the remaining crew members were flown back to Mexico.
The Cuauhtémoc was towed to Pier 36 on the East River to be assessed for further damage and investigation. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative team that includes experts in nautical operations and marine and bridge engineering expects the ship’s voyage data recorder to reveal crucial information about what occurred. The data recorder can provide information about the ship’s mechanics, control input, and when power was lost, along with information about the river, including depth and currents.
Described as a “goodwill vessel,” the Cuauhtémoc sets sail to finish naval military cadet training at the end of each class year. It departed Acapulco on April 6 and arrived in New York on May 13. It was docked at the South Street Seaport Museum for five days of public viewing, drawing a crowd of thousands all week. It was departing New York Harbor en route to Iceland when the incident occurred around 8:20 p.m.
The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations over a span of 254 days, including Jamaica, Cuba, Iceland, France, and Scotland, among others. As of 2024, the Cuauhtémoc had visited 212 ports in 64 countries in 756,085 nautical miles, the equivalent of 35 trips around the world.
Rubenstein & Rynecki is a full-service personal injury law firm that has been serving New York City residents for 50 years. To learn more about our services or schedule a free consultation, call 718-522-1020 or contact us online. Located in Brooklyn, we serve clients throughout New York City, including Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
