2 Dead After Mexican Navy Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge

Two crew members are dead and nearly two dozen others were injured after a Mexican navy tall ship lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday evening, said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Videos posted to social media showed the moment the masts of the sailing vessel, identified as a training ship on a goodwill mission called the Cuauhtémoc, snapped upon slamming into the bridge.

“Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge,” Adams said in a post on X. “At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries.”

He added: “We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse. Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to the public.”

We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse.

Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to…

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 18, 2025

According to NBC New York, the damaged ship was taken to a pier on the Lower East Side and New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the National Transportation Safety Board would lead a review of the incident.

Tragedy on the East River after a Mexican naval training ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, killing at least two people.https://t.co/lUvM0U2f86 pic.twitter.com/Azzu1N1wPv

— CB Cotton (@CB_Cotton) May 18, 2025

Bystanders shared with the Associated Press harrowing details of what they witnessed, including Lily Katz, who was reportedly sitting and watching the sunset with another person when the Cuauhtémoc hit the bridge.

“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,” Katz said.

The New York Post reported a statement from the Mexican navy.

“During the sailing maneuver of the Cuauhtémoc sailboat in New York, a mishap occurred with the Brooklyn Bridge, causing damage to the training ship, preventing the continuation of the training cruise for the time being,” the Mexican navy said. “The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support. The Navy reaffirms its commitment to personnel safety, transparency in its operations, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Navy.”