What Mexican Navy Training Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing Two and Injuring Dozens
Just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, what had been a sunny, pleasant evening in Brooklyn turned tragic. As crowds gathered near the waterfront, they witnessed the Mexican Navy’s tall training ship Cuauhtémoc strike the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. The impact killed two people and left more than 20 others injured.
Eyewitness Flavio Moreira told CNN that some crew members were visibly tossed about on the ship’s deck. “We could see some people being kind of dragged,” he said.
The crash came only 16 months after the Dali, a massive Singaporean container ship, struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024—also after losing power—killing six construction workers.
What Happened
The Cuauhtémoc had just departed from Pier 17 in Manhattan after five days docked at the South Street Seaport Museum, where it had been open for public tours. The ship, part of a global goodwill voyage, was en route to Iceland and had planned to refuel at Bay Ridge before heading to open sea.
Around 8:26 p.m., New York authorities began receiving multiple 911 calls.
He expressed prayers for the victims and gratitude to first responders who helped prevent further disaster. At least 22 people were reported injured, with 19 taken to area hospitals. Two remained in critical condition.
According to a senior city official, the vessel lost steering control when its rudder malfunctioned. “Without being able to use the rudder, they could not steer.” The current may have carried the ship toward the bridge, the source added.
Authorities involved in the investigation include the NYPD’s Special Operations Division, the FDNY, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the NYC Department of Transportation.
Federal Investigation Underway
The team includes experts in nautical navigation, marine engineering, bridge integrity, and survival factors.
Investigators will examine the ship’s voyage data recorder, which may reveal key information about the vessel’s condition and operation at the time of the crash. This includes engine data, rudder input, water current patterns, and communications logs.
Mary Schiavo, former U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general, told CNN the recorder could also help determine when the ship lost power and how the current affected its navigation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer raised concerns on Sunday about possible links between the incident and previous cuts to Coast Guard funding during the Trump administration. He called for a thorough investigation into whether under-resourcing or mismanagement played a role in the crash.
“There’s a general sense of dysfunction in parts of the Coast Guard,” Schumer said, questioning whether past political interference may have hampered command, coordination, or communication efforts.
CNN has reached out to the White House for a response.
Remembering the Victims
The second victim, sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, was identified by the local government in San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca. In a Facebook post, the community expressed heartfelt condolences to his family.
In Xalapa, Sánchez’s family and friends gathered at her home to mourn her death and demand accountability. “What happened is illogical. There must be someone responsible.”
Sánchez’s mother, Rocio Hernandez, told Reuters that U.S. “The U.S. coroner already told me that yes, everything is ready … and I’m waiting for that,” she said.
The Mexican ambassador to the U.S. and the Mexican Consulate General are also assisting in the ongoing efforts.
The Ship: Cuauhtémoc’s Legacy
Named after the last Aztec emperor, the ship is both a naval training vessel and a symbol of Mexican diplomacy and maritime pride.
According to the Navy, the ship had visited 212 ports across 64 countries as of last year, covering over 756,000 nautical miles—equal to about 35 trips around the world. The current voyage was part of the annual training mission for the graduating class of 2025 from the Heroic Naval Military School, Mexico’s elite naval academy.
The sudden tragedy during its goodwill mission has cast a shadow over the ship’s legacy, with many demanding a thorough probe into how such a catastrophic failure could have occurred.