What began as a routine departure quickly turned into disaster.
SHAH ALAM – A tragic maritime accident on the East River has drawn international attention and sorrow after the Mexican Navy’s tall ship, Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on May 18.
The crash resulted in the deaths of a cadet and a sailor, injured over 20 others and triggered a thorough investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), working closely with Mexican authorities. Here’s what we know so far.
The fatal collision: what happened?
What began as a routine departure quickly turned into disaster.
The Cuauhtémoc, a majestic three-masted ship docked for five days at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport during its global goodwill tour, started to pull away from Pier 17 at 8.20pm on May 18.
According to Brian Young, the NTSB investigator leading the inquiry, conditions included 10-knot winds (about 11–12 mph) and a weak current of 0.3 knots flowing toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
After moving slowly at about 2 knots, the ship suddenly accelerated to 6 knots—but in the wrong direction.
At 8.24pm, someone onboard sent a distress call over VHF radio, requesting immediate tugboat help. Less than a minute later, the ship’s tall masts struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. Witnesses on the Brooklyn shore watched in horror.
“We could see some people being dragged. I believe it was some of the crew. They were on top of the boat, swinging back and forth as soon as the ship hit the bridge,” eyewitness Flavio Moreira told CNN.
Emergency teams arrived quickly—within two minutes. By 8.27pm, the ship had stopped, and by 8.30pm, New York Police Department (NYPD) and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) teams were on site. Over 100 first responders took part in rescue efforts.
The victims: two lives lost
Two people fell from a mast during the collision and died, according to law enforcement.
One was 21-year-old cadet América Yamilet Sánchez from Xalapa, Veracruz, whose death was confirmed by the Veracruz governor.
The other was sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos from San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca. The city council expressed their “heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones” on Facebook.
Investigation underway: what the NTSB is looking at
NTSB board member Michael Graham said the investigation is just beginning.
“We will not draw conclusions or speculate at this stage. Probable cause will not be determined while we are still on site,” he said.
Investigators are focusing on three main areas:
Early reports show the ship still had power—string lights were on and the propeller was in reverse at the time of the crash.
However, a senior official said that the ship experienced a mechanical issue and lost power.
"Without control of the rudder, they couldn’t steer," the senior official said.
The captain told authorities he lost control due to rudder failure. The NTSB is working with Mexican officials to inspect the ship fully and interview the captain, crew members, tugboat captain, docking pilot and the person who sent the distress call.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, but the full investigation may take 12 to 24 months.
Bridge safety and past incidents
The Brooklyn Bridge suffered no structural damage and was only closed temporarily.
This incident recalls the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, caused by the container ship Dali, which lost power and struck a support pier, killing six workers.
After that tragedy, the Brooklyn Bridge was identified by the NTSB as vulnerable to ship impact. New York City authorities conducted a risk assessment and concluded the chance of catastrophic failure was essentially zero.
What’s next?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences to the victims’ families and support for the Navy.
“We stand with the Mexican Navy during this difficult time. The ship will likely be repaired in New York and resume service,” she said.
According to the Mexican Navy, 22 people were injured. Eighteen have returned to Veracruz, while two remain in New York for specialised medical care.
As the ship remains anchored and the investigation continues, all eyes are on the NTSB’s final report to provide answers to a shocked public and grieving families.
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