Mexican Navy Ship Hits Brooklyn Bridge After Power Loss
Mexican Navy Ship Hits Brooklyn Bridge After Power Failure
A tragic accident occurred on May 17, 2025, when the Mexican Navy’s tall ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge while leaving New York for Iceland. Officials revealed that the ship lost power due to mechanical issues, making it impossible to steer. The strong current pushed the vessel directly into the bridge.
It's a tall ship that is part of the Mexican naval fleet. It is used to train sailors. People are hanging from the rigging and stranded on the yards of the masts. The Brooklyn Bridge has been closed in response. pic.twitter.com/x8S2YwgPHF
— Lisa (@politeracy) May 18, 2025
What Went Wrong?
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials confirmed that the ship experienced a complete power failure while sailing in the East River. Because of this, the Cuauhtémoc couldn’t maneuver, and its massive masts struck the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge around 8:30 p.m.
Devastating Impact
The ship’s masts were 147 feet tall, while the bridge clearance is only 135 feet. As a result, the masts broke off and crashed onto the ship’s deck.
BREAKING NEWS????
— GAROWE ONLINE (@GaroweOnline) May 18, 2025
Mexican navy tall ship smashes into Brooklyn Bridge, shears off masts after losing power, 2 dead, 19 hurt.pic.twitter.com/a3HWKgGSCK
Eyewitnesses captured dramatic video of sailors hanging onto the rigging or falling during the collision. The accident tragically killed two people and injured at least 19, including four in critical condition. All were crew or passengers on the ship — no bystanders were harmed, and no one fell into the river.
❗️????????⚓️???????? - The Mexican Navy's tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc, a 1982 Spanish-built barque with 277 crew members, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City just before 9 PM.
— ????????The Informant (@theinformant_x) May 18, 2025
One of the ship’s 150-foot masts struck the bridge, snapping and triggering a large-scale search and… pic.twitter.com/dEg1hM4Z8l
Emergency Response and Bridge Condition
Rescue teams quickly responded and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. The Brooklyn Bridge was closed briefly for safety checks but reopened within 40 minutes after engineers confirmed there was no serious damage.
What Happens Next?
The Cuauhtémoc is being moved to Pier 36 for a full inspection and repairs. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the exact mechanical problems that led to the power outage.
