What was meant to be a diplomatic and cultural stopover for the Mexican Navy’s training ship Cuauhtémoc in New York City ended in tragedy.
The iconic tall ship, carrying 277 people on board, collided on Saturday, May 17, with the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in the death of two crew members and leaving more than 20 others injured.
How did the accident happen?
At approximately 8:20 Saturday night, the FDNY received a call that a boat struck the Brooklyn Bridge. There were 277 people on the boat. 27 people were removed for treatment.
“Originally, we had a Brooklyn box out for folks in the water, for a boat in distress. Once the… pic.twitter.com/0m7sTl7jTY
— FDNY (@FDNY) May 18, 2025
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, as the vessel was performing departure maneuvers from the New York harbor to continue its international voyage.
According to preliminary reports, the Cuauhtémoc lost electrical power while navigating the East River, leaving it adrift and unable to steer.
Within minutes, the ship collided with the structure of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The impact was so severe that all three of the ship’s main masts snapped, triggering an immediate emergency on board.
Videos captured by witnesses on their phones show the moment of the collision and the collapse of the towering masts onto the ship’s deck.
Victims and injured
In the early hours of Sunday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that two of the sailors who had been injured in the incident had died from the severity of their injuries.
At that time, of the 277 people on board, 19 were injured, two of them in critical condition, and two more have died from their injuries
Eric Adams, Major of New York
A total of 22 crew members were reported injured, with 11 in serious condition and nine in stable condition, according to updated information provided by the Mexican Navy.
The remaining passengers and crew on board were evacuated and treated by New York emergency services.
Response from authorities
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her solidarity via her official account on X, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and acknowledging the efforts of both Mexican and U.S. authorities in providing assistance to the injured.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in the port of New York. Our sympathy and support go out to their families
Claudia Sheinbaum, president of México
Mayor Eric Adams thanked the swift response of New York City Fire Department rescue teams, the U.S. Coast Guard, and medical personnel, whose actions helped contain the emergency and prevent an even greater tragedy.
He also confirmed that a preliminary structural inspection found no significant damage to the Brooklyn Bridge, which has since been reopened to traffic.
What is the Cuauhtémoc Ship?
The ARM Cuauhtémoc (BE-01) is the official training ship of the Mexican Navy.
It was built in Bilbao, Spain, and entered service in 1982.
Widely regarded as a symbol of Mexican naval diplomacy, the Cuauhtémoc has visited more than 200 ports around the world, serving as a cultural ambassador and training platform for naval cadets.
This year, the ship was on a mission focused on training and public diplomacy, promoting Mexican culture and the development of future naval officers.
It had arrived in New York on May 13 as part of a scheduled stopover before continuing its voyage to Iceland, where it was expected to dock in the coming weeks.
Ongoing investigation
Buzzy
The U.S. Maritime Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are in charge of the official investigation of the accident.
Although the cause has not yet been determined, there are hypotheses of an electrical or mechanical failure in the propulsion system, which would have left the vessel unable to respond to the river currents.
For now, Mexican authorities are collaborating with the investigations and have initiated the process to repatriate the bodies of the deceased sailors.
For more news, visit QuéOnnda.com.
