19 injured as Mexican Navy ship crashes into New York's iconic Brooklyn Bridge
A New York Police Department harbor unit passes in front of the Cuauhtémoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship as it sits stranded near the Manhattan Bridge after colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. AP/PTI(AP05_18_2025_000060B)
As many as 19 sailors suffered injuries after a training ship of the Mexican Navy crashed into the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Sunday. The 142-year-old bridge did not suffer any major damage in the crash, authorities said.
According to reports, the Mexican Navy ship, which was on a promotional tour in New York City, partially collapsed after it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. New York authorities said a probe is underway and the cause of the collision is being investigated.
Videos captured by eyewitnesses show the ship with tall masts slamming into the iconic bridge. Videos showed heavy traffic on the span at the time of the collision. The New York fire department officials said that authorities responded to the injuries immediately. Sailors could be seen aloft in the rigging on the damaged masts.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said 19 people were injured in the crash, four seriously, but the 142-year-old bridge was spared major damage, AP reported. The cause of the collision was under investigation, he added. As per reports, at least 200 persons were onboard the Mexican Navy’s training vessel.
In a post on X, the Mexican Navy confirmed its academy training vessel 'Cuauhtemoc' was damaged in an accident with the Brooklyn Bridge and it has disrupted its voyage. Mexico’s foreign affairs ministry said that officials from its consulate in the US are in contact with local authorities and are providing assistance to the affected cadets.
Eyewitnesses told AP that they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap. Looking closer, they saw someone dangling from high on the ship. “We saw someone dangling, and I couldn't tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,” they said.
Over 1 lakh vehicles and an estimated 32,000 pedestrians cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day. The bridge, which was opened in 1883, has a nearly 1,600-foot main span supported by two masonry towers.
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