Mexican Navy vessel collides with Brooklyn bridge, 22 injured | VIDEO
New York: A Mexican Navy training vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday while on a promotional tour in New York City. The ship, the Cuauhtemoc, brushed the iconic bridge’s deck as its mast made contact with the span while sailing through the East River.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said 22 people were injured in the crash, four seriously, but the 142-year-old bridge was spared major damage. The cause of the collision was under investigation.
Eyewitness videos captured the dramatic moment when three of the ship’s masts snapped and partially collapsed, falling onto the bridge’s deck. At the time of the collision, heavy traffic was present on the bridge, and onlookers quickly evacuated the area as the ship, flying a large Mexican flag, drifted toward the edge of the river.
In a statement on the social media platform X, the Mexican Navy confirmed that the Cuauhtemoc had suffered damage in the accident, which halted its voyage. The Navy added that local authorities and naval personnel were assessing the condition of the ship and the safety of those on board.
“The Secretary of the Navy renews its commitment to the safety of personnel, transparency in its operations, and the high level of training for future officers of the Mexican Armada,” the statement read in Spanish.
The Brooklyn Bridge, an architectural landmark completed in 1883, spans nearly 1,600 feet (490 metres) across the East River. It sees daily traffic from over 100,000 vehicles and an estimated 32,000 pedestrians, with its walkway also drawing numerous tourists.
The Cuauhtemoc, measuring 297 feet in length and 40 feet in width (90.5 metres long and 12 metres wide), has been a part of the Mexican Navy since its first voyage in 1982. The vessel is used to train cadets from the Mexican Naval Academy and embarks on annual training trips after the academic year ends.
This year, the Cuauhtemoc departed from the Mexican port of Acapulco on 6 April, carrying 277 people. The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York, among others. The ship’s journey was to last 254 days, with 170 days spent at sea and 84 in port.