On the evening of May 17, 2025, the Mexican Navy’s training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City after experiencing a mechanical failure. The ship, a tall sailing vessel with three large masts, lost power while departing a Manhattan pier and drifted uncontrollably into the bridge. As it passed beneath, its masts struck the underside of the bridge, snapping and partially collapsing. Some crew members, who were performing duties high up in the rigging, were left hanging from harnesses during the impact.
The incident resulted in at least two fatalities and over 20 injuries, several of them critical. Emergency crews launched a large-scale rescue and recovery effort, transporting victims to nearby hospitals. The Cuauhtémoc, known for its diplomatic training voyages and international goodwill missions, was carrying 277 people at the time, mostly naval cadets.
Although the Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major structural damage, the accident has prompted investigations by U.S. authorities and the Mexican Navy into the ship’s mechanical failure and response protocols.
