Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge, Leaving Two Crew Members Dead

 

Mexican Navy Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge, Leaving Two Crew Members Dead

Two crew members were killed and twenty-two injured when the Mexican Navy's training ship, ARM Cuauhtémoc, struck New York's famous Brooklyn Bridge on the evening of May 17, 2025. During a training exercise en route to Iceland, the ship carrying 277 personnel lost power while traversing the East River at approximately 8:20 p.m.

Collision Details and Immediate Aftermath

According to witnesses, the Cuauhtémoc struck the Brooklyn Bridge's bottom with its three tall masts after drifting backward. The impact broke all three masts, and debris fell onto the ship's deck. Tragically, two crew members who were on the masts at the time perished. Responders quickly reached the scene and took 27 people to a nearby pier for medical evaluation.

The bridge was able to reopen soon after the crash since preliminary examinations showed minimal structural damage, despite the collision's intensity.

Investigation Underway

The root cause of the tragedy is being looked into by authorities. According to early reports, the vessel may have become unbearable due to a mechanical breakdown that caused the power to go out. Significant information on the ship's mechanics and any possible communication problems during the incident should be provided via the voyage data recorder.

Cuauhtémoc's Mission and Legacy

Since it was put into service in 1982, the 297-foot steel-hulled barque known as the ARM Cuauhtémoc has represented Mexican naval pride. The Heroic Naval Military School uses the ship, which bears the name of the final Aztec ruler, as a training vessel to give cadets hands-on sailing experience. The Cuauhtémoc has traveled more over 756,000 nautical miles and visited 212 ports in 64 countries throughout its 42-year service.
Insider Business
The ship was traveling the world for 254 days at the time of the collision with the goal of fostering goodwill and bolstering naval instruction. New York was one of the tour's major destinations, with planned stops in 22 ports across 15 countries.

International Reactions

In addition to expressing her profound sadness at the incident, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sent her condolences to the families of the victims and promised them her complete support. Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, also expressed his condolences and praised the emergency personnel's prompt actions.

Current Status

At Pier 35 in New York, the damaged Cuauhtémoc is presently docked. While investigations continue and repairs are being assessed, the ship's future route is still unknown. The Mexican Navy agreed to conduct an exhaustive inquiry to figure out the exact cause of the collision and to put policies in place to stop similar incidents in the future.

Even for experienced ships like the Cuauhtémoc, the unpredictability of marine navigation and the significance of strict safety protocols are highlighted by this sad incident.