A majestic training ship operated by the Mexican Navy slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday, snapping all three of its towering masts and injuring at least 22 people, including several cadets, in a dramatic and chaotic incident that has sent shockwaves through maritime and city authorities alike.
The Cuauhtémoc, a 282-foot barque serving as a floating classroom for the Mexican Navy, was making what should have been a routine passage up the East River around 8:15 p.m. The ship was adorned with decorative lights and its sails were furled, suggesting it was not under full sail, but the top-heavy vessel nonetheless collided with the lower span of the Brooklyn Bridge — a miscalculation that proved both catastrophic and deeply symbolic.
The tranquil spring evening turned into a surreal tableau for hundreds of bystanders along the East River waterfront, who had gathered to watch the lit-up vessel pass under the bridge. Some were picnicking at Brooklyn Bridge Park, others capturing photos of the skyline when they suddenly saw the masts shear away, splintering like matchsticks and crashing into the water.
“The sound was like a thunderclap, and then just chaos,” said Mia DeLuca, a Brooklyn Heights resident who had been filming the ship for social media. “You could see people scrambling on deck. The masts just snapped clean off like someone had taken scissors to them.”
Videos of the collision quickly went viral, showing the ship’s rigging lights tangling as the masts collided with the underbelly of the bridge. Pieces of wood and equipment cascaded into the river and onto the ship’s deck, triggering panic on board.
The Mexican Navy issued a brief but sober statement early Sunday confirming that 22 people had been injured, three of them critically. The statement emphasized that no one had fallen into the river and that a rescue operation had not been necessary.
Still, multiple witnesses claimed to see sailors clinging to rigging moments before the collision, prompting questions about how many were at risk of falling or being struck during the impact. According to emergency responders, many of the injuries were caused by falling debris or blunt force trauma from the collapsing masts.
The injured were rushed to hospitals across Manhattan and Brooklyn, including NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and Bellevue. City officials have not yet released names or nationalities, but it is believed most were Mexican naval cadets and officers.
At the heart of the investigation is the question of how such a high-profile vessel, staffed by trained naval officers, could misjudge the clearance of one of the world’s most iconic bridges. The Brooklyn Bridge has a vertical clearance of roughly 127 feet above mean high water, while the Cuauhtémoc’s tallest mast measures over 158 feet.
Maritime experts have already begun speculating that either a navigational miscalculation, outdated height data, or a communications breakdown between the ship and harbor authorities contributed to the incident.
“This is not a narrow margin error — this is a difference of over 30 feet,” said retired U.S. Navy Commander Jason Briggs. “Either someone failed to check bridge clearance, or the ship was in the wrong part of the channel at the wrong time.”
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a full investigation, coordinating with both Mexican officials and the New York City Department of Transportation, which oversees the bridge. Initial reports suggest the ship may have deviated slightly from its expected route as it made a slow northward journey past Governors Island and toward the Manhattan side of the river.
The Cuauhtémoc is not just any ship. It is a symbol of Mexican naval pride, often referred to as “The Ambassador and Gentleman of the Seas.” Since its commissioning in 1982, it has participated in international regattas and goodwill tours across the globe, serving as a platform for Mexico’s soft diplomacy.
That makes this accident not only a maritime incident, but a diplomatic embarrassment.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a brief statement Sunday morning expressing her concern for the injured and pledging a full investigation. “We are in close communication with U.S. authorities to understand exactly what happened and to ensure the safety of our naval personnel,” she said.
The Mexican Navy also reiterated its commitment to “transparency, excellence in training, and the highest standards of maritime safety.”
Despite the public assurances, insiders in both countries acknowledge that this incident could temporarily strain naval cooperation and will almost certainly trigger a reevaluation of international naval visits to busy civilian ports like New York.
City engineers were on-site within hours of the crash to assess whether the Brooklyn Bridge sustained any structural damage. While the ship struck only the undercarriage of the span and no vehicles or pedestrians were directly affected, transportation officials have cordoned off sections of the bridge as a precaution.
Mayor Eric Adams called the incident “highly unusual and deeply concerning” in a press briefing Sunday morning.
“We’re incredibly lucky that no lives were lost. But this could have been far worse — we’re talking about a ship essentially crashing into a 140-year-old landmark that carries over 120,000 vehicles a day. We will leave no stone unturned in understanding what went wrong.”
As of Sunday afternoon, traffic on the bridge was open but reduced to fewer lanes while structural inspections continue.
The Cuauhtémoc, named after the last Aztec emperor, is more than a training vessel — it’s a floating monument to Mexican heritage. Painted white with gold trim, the ship often hosts dignitaries and civilians during port calls and ceremonial voyages.
Equipped with three towering masts and dozens of sails, the Cuauhtémoc is designed to teach young naval cadets the fundamentals of seamanship, navigation, and leadership. The ship had arrived in New York as part of a multinational goodwill tour that included stops in Miami and Charleston.
Saturday’s mishap has likely put the remainder of that tour on indefinite hold.
Beyond the technical and diplomatic dimensions of the crash, the emotional toll is being felt across New York’s immigrant and maritime communities. The Mexican Consulate in Manhattan announced it would provide assistance to families of the injured and facilitate coordination with hospitals.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in both New York and Washington are demanding clarity.
“This was an avoidable disaster, and we need to know if harbor safety protocols were ignored or if communication systems failed,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “The public deserves answers.”
Some critics have pointed fingers at the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Authority for not issuing adequate warnings or supervising the tall ship’s passage more closely. Others argue that the Mexican Navy should have better coordinated its route, especially considering the high profile of the vessel.
The ship, now docked at a Brooklyn Navy Yard pier under tight security, remains partially disabled. Naval engineers are expected to conduct a full survey of its damage, particularly to the rigging and structural integrity of the deck.
Insurance and liability questions are also likely to arise, especially given the public nature of the bridge and the presence of over 200 people aboard a foreign military vessel at the time of the accident.
Back on shore, city residents and tourists continue to gather near the site, taking in the strange sight of a proud naval ship brought low by an unexpected and stunning miscalculation.
